H.R. 2273 would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals.
Detailed Summary
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals to implement staffing plans that meet specified ratios for direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing levels for each unit and other requirements, including for receiving input from nurses. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to further limit such ratios as needed to ensure public safety and to establish ratios for units not specified. Provides an exception to such staffing requirements for a declared state of emergency. Requires hospitals to provide the Secretary with their staffing plan and annual updates. Requires the Secretary to conduct audits to ensure the implementation of adequate staffing plans.
Requires the Secretary: (1) acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to complete a study of licensed practical nurse staffing and its effects on patient care in hospitals; and (2) to establish requirements for hospitals based on the outcome of the study.
Requires the Secretary to adjust payments to cover additional Medicare costs that are attributable to this Act. Requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to submit to Congress and the Secretary a report estimating total costs and savings attributable to compliance with nurse staffing requirements.
Provides nurses with the right to refuse to accept assignments that would violate staffing requirements or for which they are not prepared. Prohibits retaliation by hospitals for such refusals or for reporting violations of staffing requirements.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 5/6/2009: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
anonymous
June 6, 2009, 12:45am (report abuse)I actually think this is a great idea. The staffing issues that I have dealt with are downright UNSAFE in the ICU setting and patient acuity. There is no doubt consequences with patient safety and their post-surgical outcomes, morbidity and mortality. I am totally for this bill. It would definately have to be audited to truly work, however. It is a right of the patient to receive no harm. Unfortuanety, this occurs in the hospital climate of today.
YB
July 4, 2009, 12:53pm (report abuse)I strongly support this bill and recommend that nurses throughout the US should support. Facility not using nurse-to-patient ratios based on acuity is the reason I left hospital nursing and went to teaching. I did not feel that I could be a safe practitioner, and daily I was putting my license on the line.
anonymous
July 28, 2009, 10:34pm (report abuse)all hospitals seems to have less staff at night ironically, there is less resources and more sundowners, which greatly impacts patient safety. why is this? Will this bill support all shifts and be standardized for all shifts????