Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania State Senate
05/11/2024 11:07 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=41801
Share:
Home / Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: November 30, 2023 02:01 PM
From: Senator Judy Ward
To: All Senate members
Subject: Expanding the Scope of the Health Care Facilities Act
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that amends Act 128 of 2022, the Health Care Facilities Act, to expand its scope. Under this bill, Act 128 will apply to Contract Health Care Services Agencies operating in all health care facilities located within the Commonwealth. In addition, this legislation will address the information these agencies must provide to the Department of Human Services (DHS) to ensure that DHS has the ability to properly oversee the agencies that are providing nursing services within all facilities.
 
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a nationwide nursing shortage, Act 128 amended the Health Care Facilities Act to require contract health care service agencies providing temporary employment in nursing facilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes to register with DHS to operate within the Commonwealth. Under Act 128, staffing agencies are required to certify that:
 
*employees of the agency meet all licensing standards;
*the agency carries sufficient medical malpractice insurance;
*the agency maintains workers’ compensation insurance for all employees; and
*the agency conducts criminal record checks for each of its employees.
 
Act 128 provides necessary oversight for DHS to ensure that nurse staffing agencies are providing qualified nurses to care for individuals residing in those three types of facilities.
 
Unfortunately, the nursing shortages in Pennsylvania are not limited to the three facilities currently specified in Act 128. It is therefore imperative that we expand the act to ensure oversight and accountability of these health care staffing agencies and the personnel that they deploy throughout the Commonwealth.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. If you have any questions, please contact Gregory Beckenbaugh at gbeckenbaugh@pasen.gov.
 


Introduced as SB1117