Administrative Rule Review
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) operates from facilities throughout the state, working every day to ensure quality care for Missourians; assist and protect seniors; and operate more than 100 programs and initiatives addressing public health issues. DHSS closely coordinates with partners such as Missouri’s 115 local public health agencies and the ten Area Agencies on Aging to provide needed services and plan for a healthy future.
DHSS is thoroughly reviewing all of its administrative rules, and we need your help! Feedback from the citizens we serve is invaluable in helping us identify changes that can be made to improve DHSS’ operations. DHSS’ administrative rules appear below. Please select the Division(s) on which you wish to comment. Thank you for assisting with this important quality improvement initiative.
Division 10: Director’s Office
The primary role of the Director’s Office is to oversee the organization of the department, providing leadership and articulating the department’s vision and goals. This section also includes physician and nursing student loan and training programs, vital records, abortion regulations, and data reporting requirements.
Division 15: Senior and Disability Services
This division is charged with protecting seniors and adults with disabilities from abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. It is responsible for oversight and implementation of programs designed to maximize independence, health, and safety for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Division 20: Community and Public Health
The primary responsibility of this division is to coordinate public health resources to protect and promote the public’s health and prevent diseases. Regulations regarding food and cosmetics safety, sanitation, toxic substances, radioactivity, and infectious diseases fall under its purview.
Division 25: Public Health Lab
The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory provides a wide range of diagnostic and analytical services for individuals, health care providers and local public health authorities. These services include testing for infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and environmental health concerns.
Division 30: Regulation and Licensure
This division oversees regulation and licensure activities for child care facilities, long-term care facilities, and health care facilities. In addition, the division oversees controlled substance regulations and operates the Family Care Safety Registry.
Division 40: Maternal, Child and Family Health
This division includes programs to enhance the health of mothers and children through nutrition, early screening, and medical care for disabilities.
Division 45: Nutritional Health
Details food and nutrition programs for both children and adults and establishes requirements for agencies participating in those programs.
Division 50: Injuries and Head Injuries
Regulates volunteer medical services and sets requirements for the Missouri Rehabilitation Center and the Head Injury program.
Division 60: Health Facilities Review
Sets rules regarding Missouri’s Certificate of Need (CON) program, created by 197.300–197.366, RSMo, for the purpose of addressing issues of need, cost, and distribution of health services. The purpose of the CON statute is to achieve the highest level of health for Missourians by reviewing proposed health care services and preventing unnecessary duplication.
Division 70: Chronic Disease Prevention
Sets requirements for health care providers to report cases of cancer to the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Division 73: Nursing Home Administrators
The Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators determines the qualifications for licensure to practice administration of a long-term care facility. The board issues such licenses, approves continuing education activities, and works to maintain high standards of professional competence and ethical conduct among long-term care administrators.