Amendment #549 to H4600

Staffing Ratio Waiver for Dialysis Clinics

Miss Gregoire of Marlborough moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:--

“SECTION XX.   Section 53 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking said section in its entirety, and replacing it with the following section:--

Section 53: Classification of hospitals; rules and regulations; dialysis units; inspections

Section 53. The department shall classify all hospitals. The department shall, after a public hearing, promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of hospitals and clinics. Such rules and regulations shall include requirements for diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for the study, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients, and the keeping of proper medical records. The department shall, after a public hearing, promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of institutions for unwed mothers. Such rules and regulations shall include requirements for the care and supervision of unwed mothers, and the keeping of proper medical records. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of out-of-hospital dialysis units, which rules and regulations shall include requirements for the care and treatment of patients, the keeping of proper medical records, provisions for the referral of patients to the unit, provisions for the referral of patients to other modes of treatment, including kidney transplant and home dialysis and provisions of in-hospital and other supportive services as deemed necessary by the department through regulation. Such rules and regulations shall include a requirement that a dialysis unit have on duty sufficient direct care nursing personnel to ensure that all patients undergoing dialysis have nursing care available at all times provided by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other staff trained in chronic dialysis at a ratio of at least one direct  care nursing personnel to every three patients; provided that such rules and regulations may include circumstances for which the department may waive said nursing personnel ratio requirements. The department or its agents may visit and inspect at any time any institution, entity, or unit subject to licensure under section fifty-one.

SECTION XY.  Section XX shall take effect on July 1, 2024.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #549 to H4600

Staffing Ratio Waiver for Dialysis Clinics