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Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-1113| Senate 
| Updated: 3/30/2023
Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Democratic Senator

Ohio

Cosponsors (9)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1357
Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1567
Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021
Mar 30, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 30, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Dec 17, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-2530
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1357
    Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1567
    Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021


  • March 30, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 30, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • December 17, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-2530
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-2530: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023

Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-1113| Senate 
| Updated: 3/30/2023
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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1357
Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1567
Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021
Mar 30, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 30, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Dec 17, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-2530
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1357
    Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1567
    Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021


  • March 30, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 30, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • December 17, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-2530
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Democratic Senator

Ohio

Cosponsors (9)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-2530: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted