LEGISLATURE VOTES FOR PATIENT SAFETY BILL

BOSTON – Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) joined her colleagues in the Legislature to pass legislation that will set nurse staffing ratios in intensive care units within hospitals in the Commonwealth.

The sense of urgency was in hopes of avoiding two expensive ballot campaigns, between the Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA), and the Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA), in the fall, one that would set varying nurse staffing rations in hospital units, and another that would regulate CEO compensation, annual operating margins and financial asset disclosures of hospitals and other facilities. If Governor Patrick signs the bill into law before July 2nd, the MNA has agreed to drop their campaigns, and the two ballot questions.

 As acting-Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Representative Benson (D-Lunenburg) worked with both the MHA, and MNA attempting to reach a compromise on An Act relative to patient safety (S0557 and H1008).  There was resistance from both sides, and the bills were set to go to the ballot in November.

“I was proud to join my colleagues in expediting the nurse staffing bill through the Legislature.  If these bills went to the ballot it would have been very expensive and unpleasant for both sides,” said Representative Benson (D-Lunenburg). “The nurse staffing ratio debate has been going on in the Legislature for over 15 years, and it is certainly an accomplishment to see progress and avoid the ballot questions. I want to express my gratitude to Representative Denise Garlick (D-Needham) and Senate Majority Leader Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) for their persistence in reaching a compromise.” 

The compromised bill requires that in all intensive care units the nurse-patient staff ratio must be one to one, or one to two, depending on the stability of the patient as assessed by the acuity tool and by the staff nurses in the unit, including the nurse manager or the nurse manager’s designee when needed to resolve a disagreement.

The language of the bill requires each hospital to develop an “acuity tool” in consultation with the staff nurses and appropriate medical staff that the Department of Public Health will certify.  Additionally, the Health Policy Commission will establish regulations that will manage the implementation and operation of this bill, including the formulation of an acuity tool; the method of reporting to the public on staffing compliance in ICUs; and the identification of 3 to 5 related patient safety quality indicators, which shall be measured and reported by hospitals to the public.

The bill passed unanimously in the House (145-0), and Senate (39-0) was tacked on to another bill (H4228) regarding a “folic acid awareness initiative.” It now goes to the Governor for his final approval.