Bill > HB2789

This bill establishes the Michael Brandon Cochran Act, which requires hospitals with intensive care units (ICUs) to perform specific medical testing in certain patient scenarios. The bill mandates that hospitals must administer a C-peptide test (a blood test measuring a protein produced with insulin) for unconscious patients or patients with very low blood sugar (49 mg/dl or less), regardless of their diabetes status. If a patient dies after ICU treatment with symptoms suggesting potential brain damage or neurological complications, hospitals must conduct a post-mortem C-peptide test. Hospitals that fail to comply with these testing requirements will face a $10,000 fine from the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. The bill also creates the Michael Brandon Cochran Grant Program, which will help hospitals cover the costs of these tests and provide staff training on hypoglycemia and related symptoms. A special state treasury fund will be established to support the grant program, which will accept both public and private funding sources, with any remaining funds at year-end reserved exclusively for the program's purposes. The legislation aims to improve medical testing and understanding of potential complications in critically ill patients.