2012 Missouri Revised Statutes
TITLE XXXVIII CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Chapter 595 Victims of Crimes, Compensation and Services
Section 595.220 Forensic examinations, department of public safety to pay medical providers, when--minor may consent to examination, when--attorney general to develop forms--collection kits--definitions--rulemaking authority.

595.220. 1. The department of public safety shall make payments to appropriate medical providers, out of appropriations made for that purpose, to cover the reasonable charges of the forensic examination of persons who may be a victim of a sexual offense if:

(1) The victim or the victim's guardian consents in writing to the examination; and

(2) The report of the examination is made on a form approved by the attorney general with the advice of the department of public safety. The department shall establish maximum reimbursement rates for charges submitted under this section, which shall reflect the reasonable cost of providing the forensic exam.

2. A minor may consent to examination under this section. Such consent is not subject to disaffirmance because of minority, and consent of parent or guardian of the minor is not required for such examination. The appropriate medical provider making the examination shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of a minor that such an examination has taken place.

3. The attorney general, with the advice of the department of public safety, shall develop the forms and procedures for gathering evidence during the forensic examination under the provisions of this section. The department of health and senior services shall develop a checklist, protocols, and procedures for appropriate medical providers to refer to while providing medical treatment to victims of a sexual offense, including those specific to victims who are minors.

4. Evidentiary collection kits shall be developed and made available, subject to appropriation, to appropriate medical providers by the highway patrol or its designees and eligible crime laboratories. Such kits shall be distributed with the forms and procedures for gathering evidence during forensic examinations of victims of a sexual offense to appropriate medical providers upon request of the provider, in the amount requested, and at no charge to the medical provider. All appropriate medical providers shall, with the written consent of the victim, perform a forensic examination using the evidentiary collection kit, or other collection procedures developed for victims who are minors, and forms and procedures for gathering evidence following the checklist for any person presenting as a victim of a sexual offense.

5. In reviewing claims submitted under this section, the department shall first determine if the claim was submitted within ninety days of the examination. If the claim is submitted within ninety days, the department shall, at a minimum, use the following criteria in reviewing the claim: examination charges submitted shall be itemized and fall within the definition of forensic examination as defined in subdivision (3) of subsection 7 of this section.

6. All appropriate medical provider charges for eligible forensic examinations shall be billed to and paid by the department of public safety. No appropriate medical provider conducting forensic examinations and providing medical treatment to victims of sexual offenses shall charge the victim for the forensic examination. For appropriate medical provider charges related to the medical treatment of victims of sexual offenses, if the victim is an eligible claimant under the crime victims' compensation fund, the victim shall seek compensation under sections 595.010 to 595.075.

7. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Appropriate medical provider", any licensed nurse, physician, or physician assistant, and any institution employing licensed nurses, physicians, or physician assistants, provided that such licensed professionals are the only persons at such institution to perform tasks under the provisions of this section;

(2) "Evidentiary collection kit", a kit used during a forensic examination that includes materials necessary for appropriate medical providers to gather evidence in accordance with the forms and procedures developed by the attorney general for forensic examinations;

(3) "Forensic examination", an examination performed by an appropriate medical provider on a victim of an alleged sexual offense to gather evidence for the evidentiary collection kit or using other collection procedures developed for victims who are minors;

(4) "Medical treatment", the treatment of all injuries and health concerns resulting directly from a patient's sexual assault or victimization.

8. The department shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2009, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 2009 S.B. 338, A.L. 2011 S.B. 320)

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