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2001-2002
MNA Nursing Agenda for Quality Care
Below is a list
of the MNA’s legislative agenda for 2001, which includes the legislative
lead sponsors for each bill The agenda includes a mixture of bills that are
new files for the MNA, along with refiles of bills the MNA believes are necessary
to protect nurses and their patients. They address such core issues
as nurse staffing, the nursing shortage, protection for nurses against workplace
violence and much more. The agenda was developed by the MNA Congress on
Health Policy and Legislation, with guidance provided by a Blue Ribbon Commission
convened last year to assist the MNA in developing a nursing agenda that solved
the problems of nurses in practice today. Please identify which of these
initiatives is of most interest and concern to you. Contact the MNA Department
of Legislation and Government Affairs to learn more about how to become involved
in supporting this legislation..
Note: In
addition to these bills, see the information on
legislation proposed by Senator Moore , which deals with the nursing
shortage and medical error prevention. The MNA assisted the Senator in
drafting that legislation and is working hard to support its passage.
Also learn about the Massachusetts
Health Care Trust Bill , legislation the MNA supports that will create
a single payer health care system in Massachusetts.
The
Following Bills Address Safe Staffing/Quality of Nursing Care/Patient Safety
Issues
HB
1186, An Act Relative to Sufficient Nurse Staffing To Ensure Safe Patient
Care (re-file with language changes) – This bill would mandate safe
staffing levels in all health care settings. It would define “sufficient
nursing care to meet the planned and unplanned needs of patients”
by taking into account the patient’s acuity of illness, the patient’s
capacity for self-care and the standards of nursing practice. Each facility
would be required to develop and post staffing plans for every unit and track
staffing levels against nurse sensitive outcomes. There would be a RN executive/leader,
a quality assurance RN, a health and safety RN designated to each facility; reporting
mechanisms for insufficient nursing care, with potential fines and license revocation.
(Rep. Christine Canavan, RN, D-Brockton and Sen. Robert Creedon, D-Brockton)
HB 811,
An Act Relative to A Patient’s Report Card of Nursing - When nurses
advocate for improvements in staffing and changes in skill mix ratios to improve
patient care, the industry claims there is not data to support these claims.
If this data is collected, facilities have no legal obligation to share it with
policy makers or the public. This bill would mandate that all hospitals,
clinics, long term care facilities and HMOs track and report to the public annual
data regarding staffing levels and skill mix ratios; as well as nurse-sensitive
patient outcomes, such as patient falls, nosocomio infections, bedsores, patient
satisfaction and medical errors, readmission rates and length of stay.
(Rep. Cory Atkins , D-Concord and Sen. Guy Glodis, D-Worcester)
HB 2309, An
Act To Ensure Safe Medication Administration (re-file with language changes)
- This bill would amend the Controlled Substances Act (Chapter 94C) by mandating
that only licensed professionals may administer Schedule II - VI medications,
thus clarifying and strengthening Chapter 94C. It would reverse regulatory
changes which teach and mandate unlicensed direct care personnel to administer
all schedules of medications in group home settings, after only a 16 hour course
and state certification. Those who can self administer, have family or have
personal care attendants to aid with self administration are exempt from the
requirements of this legislation. It will also be structured to capture medication
errors along with other systems, which collect this information. (Rep. Brian
Cresta, R-Wakefield and Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton)
HB 1185,
An Act Relative To Improvements in Private Duty Nursing Care for Developmentally
Disabled Children (new) – Because of poor compensation, and lack of
appropriate training, there is serious shortage of nurses to provide home care
to developmentally disabled children in the Commonwealth. This bill would
improve the care of children who are developmentally disabled and in need of
home care services by creating a training program for the care of these children
and a stable pool of qualified nurses. Further, the nurses would
be employed by the state and would also be granted benefits and commensurate
salaries in an attempt to decrease the rapid turnover of providers experienced
by these families. (Rep. Christine Canavan, RN and Sen. Steven Tolman, D-Brighton)
SB 517,
An Act Relative To A Nurse Deputy Commissioner At the Department of Public Health
(new) – Nursing plays an essential and distinct role in the safe delivery
of health care in the Commonwealth. This bill would raise the profile of nurses
in the health care policymaking apparatus, by establishing a Director of Nursing
position, responsible for working with the Commissioner to ensure that nursing-related
issues are adequately monitored and considered as the department carries out
its mandate to protect the public health. (Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford
and Rep. Mary Jane Simmons, LPN, D-Leominster)
SB 532,
An Act Relative To A Registered Nurse Seat On The Public Health Council (new)
– The Public Health Council has existed for decades. The role
of the council currently is primarily to approve certificates of needs for health
care facilities and new regulations in relation to health care delivery.
There has never been a nursing position on the mostly consumer board.
There are a number of physician positions. This bill would create a nursing
position on this important council. (Sen. Moore, D-Uxbridge and Rep. Brian Knuutilla,
D-Gardner)
The Following
Bills Protect the Economic and General Welfare of Nurses
SB
501, An Act Requiring Health Care Employers To Develop And Implement Programs
To Prevent Workplace Violence (new) – This bill would mandate a comprehensive
workplace violence prevention program, along with counseling program for victims
of workplace violence who work in the delivery of health care. It would also
address the risk of violence and the appropriate retirement compensation for
those professionals who care for these populations in public sector settings.
(Sen. James Jajuga, D-Methuen and Rep. David Donnelly, D-West Roxbury)
HB 411, An Act
Relative to Assault and Battery on Health Care Providers - The bills amends
Massachusetts law to declare it a felony to assault any health care worker while
such person is treating or transporting another. The crime shall be punished
by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two and one-half
years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or
by a fine of not more then $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Sponsored
by Rep. Rodriques, D-Westport and Sen. Pangiotakos, D-Lowell)
SB 1369,
An Act Relative to Group 4 for Health Care Professionals (new) – This
legislation would place those state employed health care professionals who work
with violent or potentially violent populations in Group 4 for the purpose s
of their retirement. Group 4 recognizes state employees who work in dangerous
situations. (Sen. Brian Joyce, D-Milton and Rep. Ronald Mariano, D-Quincy)
HB 682,
An Act Relative to Group 2 Employees (re-file) - Elevates registered nurses
and other health care professionals that are state employees to a “professional
status” for the purposes of their retirement. They are currently
considered “technical status” in the state system. (Rep. Edward
Connolly, D-Everett and Sen. Michael Morrissey, D-Quincy)
HB 2412,
An Act Related To Interest Arbitration for Health Care Professionals (re-file)
– Provides for the use of binding interest arbitration in the case
of a collective bargaining impasse with the State. The purpose is to expedite
the process, ensuring a fair and objective settlement to contract negotiations.
(Rep. Thomas McGee, D-Lynn and Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton)
HB 1487,
An Act to Include Certain Municipal Employees of the Commonwealth in Group 2
of the Contributory Retirement System for Public Employees (re-file) –
elevates nurses in municipal employment from a technical position to a professional
position for the purposes of retirement. (Rep. Timothy Toomey, D-Cambridge and
Sen. Joan Menard, D-Somerset)
SB 583,
An Act Regarding Insurance Equity For Registered Nurse First Assistants -
Filed with the Association of Operating Room Nurses, Massachusetts Chapter One,
this bill creates equity for RN First Assistants with other paid providers of
first assistant services. It prevents insurance companies from discriminating
and refusing payment for first assistant services when they are provided by
a Registered Nurse. (Sen. Charles Shannon, D-Winchester and Rep. Maryanne Lewis,
D-Dedham)
Fact
sheet on this bill
Read actual bill
Nursing Shortage/Medication
Error Prevention Legislation
Click here for information regarding the MNA’s support for a comprehensive
package of legislation filed by Senator
Moore , Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care. The MNA has
worked with Sen. Moore on this legislation as it incorporates many of the initiatives
identified by the MNA’s Blue Ribbon Commission as well as our Nursing
Shortage Task Force.
SB 1296,
An Act Authorizing The Sale Of "RN" Distinctive Registration Plates (new) –
This bill would create an RN Vanity License Plate with directed funding to provide
scholarships for nursing with an emphasis on attracting a diverse population
to enter and advance in the nursing profession. (Sen. Robert Travaglini,
D-East Boston and Rep. John Stefanini, D-Framingham)
Nurses
Needed to Testify at Hearings
On MNA Legislation |
| The
MNA Congress on Nursing Practice is looking for nurses who are willing
to provide testimony in support of the bills on the MNA legislative agenda.
While the MNA will provide its own testimony, it is the words and opinions
of front-line caregivers, as well as researchers and other experts in
the field that helps convince legislators to move our legislation.
If you are interested in speaking to one of these bills, please contact
the MNA Department of Legislation and Government Affairs, and staff will
work with you to prepare your testimony. For more information, contact
Martha Campbell at 781.830.5725; email mcampbell@mnarn.org
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