![]() "Both bills together is a great package for Washington state, the citizens and the nurses and the hospitals," he said. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, said the license bill will help the health care industry, nurses and, most importantly, patients in Washington. ![]() Nurse unions had some concerns the bill could overshadow working conditions that still need to be addressed, such as through the safe-staffing model. Hospitals say the compact could address the significant workforce shortages they have faced for years. The licensure bill that passed Thursday would allow Washington to enter into a 39-state compact to let nurses who receive licenses in other states practice in Washington using the same license. "The bill does allow nurses to have a bigger seat at the table when it comes to staffing committees," Connors said. April Connors, R-Kennewick, said the bill allows for local decision-making in that individual hospitals can decide their own staffing plan and that it provides more enforcement when they are not meeting them. Rural hospitals and hospitals with fewer than 25 beds would not have to follow the reporting requirements. If they don't follow the corrective action plan they've created, they could face fines of $50,000 for every 30 days out of compliance. Beginning in 2027, hospitals could face penalties up to $10,000 for every 30 days that they fail to submit a staffing plan, committee charter or corrective action plan. The staffing plans must be submitted to the Department of Health by 2025. ![]() If signed by Inslee, the bill would require hospitals to create a staffing plan and abide by it 80% of the time, or they'd face fines. The Washington State Hospital Association said the final version left control of staffing up to individual hospitals. When the compromise was reached last month, representatives of nurse unions said the deal makes the staffing plans more enforceable, which will make hospitals a more sustainable place to work. It doesn't set specific ratios in state law, but it does require hospitals to create staffing plans and follow them, something nurse unions said isn't happening. The bill that passed the House on Thursday reflected a compromise. Nurse unions had pushed for staff-patient ratios for years, but hospital officials had pushed back on the ratios because they said they didn't have enough staff.
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