Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (May 4, 2017)
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require 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.
HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs incurred in providing services to Medicare beneficiaries that are attributable to compliance with these ratios.
The bill states that nurses have a duty and a right to act based on their professional judgment and provide care in the exclusive interests of patients. 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 specified actions against a nurse based on the nurse's refusal to accept an assignment for such a reason; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS must publish the names of hospitals penalized for violating the requirements in this bill.
The bill adds stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program. The nurse retention grant program is expanded to authorize programs to implement nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.
What just happenedMay 18, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseMay 4, 2017
- May 18, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Health Subcommittee - May 5, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Health Subcommittee - May 4, 2017IntroReferralH11100
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.
Ways and Means Committee - May 4, 2017IntroReferralH11100-A
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.
- May 4, 2017IntroReferralH11100
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.
Energy and Commerce Committee - May 4, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- May 4, 2017IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House