Bill proposes new reporting requirements
Bill proposes new reporting requirements
HHS would review mergers, acquisitions
If passed, the federal Patient Safety Act of 1997 (H.R. 1165) will require, as conditions for Medicare participation, that:
• Health care institutions make public specific information on nurse staffing levels, staff mix, and patient outcomes. Included are:
numbers of RNs providing direct care;
numbers of unlicensed personnel providing direct care;
average number of patients per RN;
patient mortality;
incidence of adverse incidents;
methods used for determining and adjusting staffing levels;
complaints filed with a state agency, the Health Care Financing Administration, or an accrediting agency related to Medicare conditions of participation and results.
• Whistle-blower language be added to Medicare law to protect from possible retribution nurses who report or voice concern about unsafe patient conditions.
• Mergers and acquisitions be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to look at long-range issues related to the health and safety of patients, the community, and employees and to block any transaction if the department concludes that there would be a negative impact on health and safety. Included are:
primary, acute, and emergency services;
services for mothers, children, and the elderly;
services to other specific populations, such as uninsured, ethnic minority, disabled, and gay;
services related to prevention, detection, and treatment of HIV and related disease, mental health, and substance abuse;
social and community services.
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