The state of Missouri has put great emphasis on the reporting and collection of data related to hospital acquired infections.  The law requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to collect data relating to infections acquired in hospitals, surgical centers, or other health care facilities.1  Missouri licensing laws require that the Department have access to this information.  Failure to do so could lead to a facility’s license being revoked or suspension of state payments to the facility.2

        In addition to the collection and reporting of hospital acquired infections, Missouri law also requires that health care providers and facilities report charge data, patient abstract data,3 and financial data annually to the Department.  Any public reports put out by the Department based on this information may not identify the patient, but can identify the provider.4  The Department of Health and Senior Services must also compile and issue reports on vital statistics and disease specific statistics that specifically include information on the health of African Americans and other minority groups within the state.5

        Missouri requires that the Department establish a Cancer Reporting System, where all cancer cases are reported by hospitals, pathology labs, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, residential care facilities, nursing facilities, and cancer clinics.6  Patient identifying information may not be released without the patient’s written consent.7  Similarly, the state requires reporting of all cases of brain and spinal cord injury to a registry established by the Department.  All reports and records in the registry must also remain confidential, and may be released under limited circumstances.8  The state also requires all abortions that have been performed to be reported to the Department, and must include the date of the abortion, name and address of the facility, and nature of the abortion, diagnosis, or treatment.9