Iowa Bill Requiring Reporting of Medical Errors Faces Hospital Opposition

DES MOINES, Iowa — A bill requiring Iowa hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and birth centers to report serious medical errors to state regulators is facing opposition from the state’s hospital associations. Senate File 2185 aims to increase transparency in healthcare by mandating the reporting of “serious reportable events” – often called “never events” – to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL).

What are “Serious Reportable Events”?

These events include a range of severe medical errors, such as:

• Injuries or deaths related to contaminated drugs
• Major medication errors
• Discharging newborns to the wrong patients
• Surgery performed on the incorrect body part or patient
• Artificial insemination with the wrong sperm or donor egg

History of the Bill and Previous Attempts

The push for mandatory reporting of medical errors in Iowa dates back at least 16 years. A previous proposal was blocked by the Iowa Hospital Licensing Board, leading to concerns about industry influence over government oversight. Legislative attempts to codify the requirement into state law have repeatedly failed in the past. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that Dean Lerner, former head of the state inspections department, expressed frustration with the industry’s resistance to transparency.

Current Status and Legislative Support

Senate File 2185 passed a subcommittee on February 12th and has moved to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Senator Mark Lofgren, a Republican from Muscatine, introduced the bill, arguing that increased data accessibility would empower both consumers and lawmakers. He believes patients should have access to information to develop informed decisions about their healthcare, noting that current resources from the Iowa Board of Medicine and DIAL are difficult to navigate. Iowa Capital Dispatch

Hospital Opposition and Concerns

The Iowa Hospital Association, UnityPoint Health, and MercyOne are all registered in opposition to the bill. While the bill includes provisions to protect the identities of healthcare professionals involved in incidents, the hospitals have not publicly stated their reasons for opposition. Executives and lobbyists from these organizations did not respond to inquiries from the Iowa Capital Dispatch regarding their stance on the legislation.

Bill Provisions and Confidentiality

The bill stipulates that DIAL will not be required to conduct further investigations once informed of a serious reportable event. Facilities are required to conduct root cause analyses and implement corrective action plans, or provide justification for not doing so. Information shared with DIAL through professional licensing boards and corrective action plans will be kept confidential. It remains unclear whether self-reports from hospitals will also be treated as confidential. Advocacy Cooperative

Support from Advocacy Groups

The Iowa Association for Justice, representing trial lawyers in the state, supports the bill. Andrew Mertens, the organization’s executive director, highlighted that medical errors are a significant cause of death in the United States, with estimates ranging from 98,000 to 440,000 deaths annually. He noted that restrictive medical malpractice laws in Iowa make it difficult for patients to seek accountability through the courts, increasing the importance of regulatory oversight. Iowa Capital Dispatch

Looking Ahead

While the bill is considered a step in the right direction by some, it is not expected to provide patients with the ability to directly compare healthcare providers or facilities. The bill must gain approval from a committee in either the House or Senate by the end of the week to remain eligible for debate this session. Iowa Capital Dispatch