Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act
Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program.
What Do You Think?
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What Happened in Congress?
Not yet voted on the floor.
Where the Bill Stands
- Introduced, done
- Committee, current stage
- Floor Vote, not yet
- Outcome, not yet
What This Bill Does
This bill requires certain providers, as a condition of Medicare participation, to limit mandatory overtime for nurses.
Specifically, the bill prohibits hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and other specified providers from requiring nurses to work (1) more than a previously scheduled shift, 48 hours in a workweek, or 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period; or (2) during the 10 hours immediately following the 12th hour worked in a shift during a 24-hour period.
Qualifying work hours include time spent in training, on call, and on standby. The bill's provisions do not apply during declared emergencies or disasters, subject to specified conditions, and do not preclude voluntary overtime.
The bill also establishes (1) certain protections for nurses who file complaints against providers, (2) documentation and notice requirements for providers, and (3) potential civil penalties for violations.
Sponsors
Related Documents
Timeline
- Library of CongressIntroduced in Senate
- SenateRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced
- Committee
Comments
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