Michigan lawmakers have reintroduced the Safe Patient Care Act, which would mandate nurse-to-patient ratios at hospitals, according to a Daily Mining Gazette report.
Four things to know:
1. The legislation is co-sponsored by state Sen. Ed McBroom and state Rep. Sara Cambensy.
2. The legislation would require hospitals to staff based on certain nurse-to-patient ratios. It would also require organizations to report the ratios used to the state and ban mandatory nurse overtime "except in an unforeseen emergent situation," according to the report.
3. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association opposes the legislation. Association spokesperson Laura Wotruba cited concerns about increased staffing costs under the proposed legislation, as well as hospitals' ability to meet the legislation's staffing mandates amid recruitment challenges. The association said it also is concerned that the "one-size-fits-all approach" to staffing "fails to recognize the complexity of patient care and the diversity of healthcare environments."
4. The legislation was last introduced in May 2017 but has not previously gained enough votes in the Michigan Legislature for passage.
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