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Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 4:07 PM
Summary of Bill S 1113
Under this legislation, hospitals would be required to adhere to specific nurse-to-patient ratios based on the acuity of patients and the type of unit they are in. The goal is to ensure that nurses are not overwhelmed with too many patients, which can result in errors and lapses in care.
The bill also includes provisions for monitoring and enforcement of these staffing standards, with penalties for hospitals that fail to comply. Additionally, the legislation calls for the establishment of a national database to track nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes, in order to assess the impact of these standards on quality of care. Supporters of the bill argue that mandated nurse-to-patient ratios are necessary to protect patients and improve the overall quality of healthcare in the US. However, opponents raise concerns about the potential financial burden on hospitals and the potential for unintended consequences, such as increased wait times for patients. Overall, Bill 118 s 1113 represents a significant effort to address the issue of nurse staffing in hospitals and ensure that patients receive the level of care they deserve. It will be important to closely monitor the implementation of these standards and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes.
Congressional Summary of S 1113
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023
This bill requires hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Hospitals must post a notice regarding nurse-to-patient ratios in each unit and maintain records of actual ratios for each shift in each unit. The bill also requires hospitals to follow certain procedures regarding how ratios are determined, and other staff are prohibited from performing nurse functions unless specifically authorized within a state's scope of practice rules.
HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs attributable to compliance with these ratios.
Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not (1) take adverse actions against a nurse based on the nurse's reasonable refusal to accept an assignment; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS may impose civil monetary penalties on hospitals violating the ratio requirements and must publish the names of such hospitals.
The bill provides stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program and expands the nurse retention grant program to include nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.
