The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission said Sept. 24 that it will release findings from its analysis on the potential cost effect of a statewide ballot initiative proposing mandated nurse staffing ratios in hospitals.
The commission expects to present the new analysis during the Oct. 3 HPC Market Oversight and Transparency Committee meeting. It said it examined California's mandated nurse staffing ratio law, as well as Massachusetts' "current RN workforce and staffing at Massachusetts hospitals, and estimated costs associated with mandated ratios."
"The mandating of nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in Massachusetts could have a significant impact on healthcare costs, quality, and access in the state. For this reason, the Health Policy Commission has developed its own assessment of the potential cost and quality implications if such a measure were to become state law," said commission chair Stuart Altman. "This type of analysis is consistent with the HPC's role as an independent watchdog of healthcare costs, quality and access in the state."
The commission said it will also discuss the analysis during the sixth annual healthcare cost trends hearing scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17.
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