New Hampshire
In 2009, New Hampshire enacted legislation to require the reporting of 28 listed adverse events in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. Beginning January 1, 2010, hospitals and surgical centers will be required to report to the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when any of the 28 adverse events occur. Deidentified reports must be made within 15 working days of the discovery of such an event. The legislation requires DHHS to establish a non-punitive system of reporting that will include the mandatory completion of root cause analyses and corrective action plans. The Commissioner will also be required to publish an annual report summarizing the adverse events of the past year, and he or she will be charged with recommending updates to the initial list of 28 events to the legislature.
| Authorizing statutes or regulations | New Hampshire House Bill 592, 2009 session | |
| Authorizing statutes or regulations | New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Title He-P, Part 802 (proposed) |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
