Bill > S780

This bill aims to address the overuse of temporary nursing service agencies at Massachusetts skilled nursing facilities. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. The Department of Public Health is directed to amend state regulations to reduce the maximum prices that temporary nursing agencies can charge skilled nursing facilities for registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified nurse aide services. The rates will be capped based on a weighted average wage for regular skilled nursing facility employees, plus a factor for payroll taxes. 2. The regulations will require reporting on ownership interests of 5% or more in both temporary nursing agencies and skilled nursing facilities, and prohibit temporary nursing agencies owned by such entities from providing services to the facilities they own. 3. The reporting requirements for temporary nursing agencies will be strengthened to improve transparency on worker compensation, benefits, training, and other operational details. 4. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is directed to amend regulations to reduce the credit given to skilled nursing facilities for nursing care hours provided by temporary agency staff when calculating quality-based payment adjustments. 5. The Department of Public Health is directed to amend regulations to ensure temporary nursing agency staff meet the same qualifications and training requirements as regularly employed nursing staff. The goal of these changes is to reduce the overreliance on temporary nursing agencies at skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S780