Bill > S912

This bill introduces comprehensive regulations for temporary nursing service agencies in Massachusetts, focusing on rate-setting, performance accountability, and workforce management. The executive office will now establish annual industry-wide rates for nursing pools, setting separate rates for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants, with rates capped at 130% of average hourly base rates and including allowances for wages, taxes, benefits, and reasonable administrative expenses. The bill mandates the creation of a publicly accessible Temporary Nursing Service Agency Performance Report Card to increase transparency and evaluability, requiring agencies to maintain low overhead (5% or less) and profit margins (5% or less). Additionally, the bill prohibits nursing pools from recruiting employees from facilities where they have active contracts for the contract duration plus 12 months, and requires temporary nursing agency workers to meet the same qualifications and training standards as regularly employed nursing staff. The Department of Public Health will be responsible for conducting periodic audits and surveys, and temporary nursing agencies will be financially responsible for any staffing failures, including ensuring shift coverage and paying fines for quality of care or documentation issues generated by their assigned staff.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S912