Massachusetts House Bill H2227

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

Regarding registered nurse first assistants

Impact

The bill's implementation would amend the existing legal framework to facilitate the inclusion of registered nurse first assistants in surgical procedures. This means that health maintenance organizations, accident and sickness insurance policies, and hospital service plans would be required to cover the services of registered nurses acting as first assistants during surgeries, enhancing their professional scope and providing greater financial recognition for their contributions to patient care during surgical operations.

Summary

House Bill 2227 proposes amendments to various sections of the Massachusetts General Laws to ensure that registered nurse first assistants are recognized and compensated in specific surgical and healthcare contexts. The bill mandates that any insurance or health service contract that provides for payment of surgical first assisting benefits shall include payment for services rendered by registered nurses who serve in that capacity. This change aims to expand the role and acknowledgment of registered nurse first assistants within the healthcare delivery system in Massachusetts.

Contention

While the intentions of H2227 are to promote the role of registered nurse first assistants, there could be concerns regarding potential implications for existing healthcare protocols and insurance reimbursement practices. Stakeholders might debate the efficacy of this bill in effectively addressing surgical staffing needs and whether it might inadvertently complicate insurance claims processes. Moreover, the bill includes the provision for a report by the Department of Public Health to evaluate the impact of registered nurse first assistants on the quality of healthcare, which suggests an acknowledgment of the need for evidence-based discussions surrounding healthcare roles.