Relating to implementation of a workplace violence prevention plan in certain hospitals; providing an administrative penalty.
Impact
The bill modifies the Health and Safety Code by adding a subchapter specifically focused on workplace violence prevention in hospitals. Under this new regulation, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is responsible for setting policies that require each hospital to create a violence prevention plan. This includes defining workplace violence, establishing minimum standards for prevention plans, and ensuring that hospital staff receive mandatory violence prevention training. The legislation also imposes record-keeping and reporting requirements for incidents of workplace violence.
Summary
House Bill 4110 introduced in Texas addresses the critical issue of workplace violence in hospitals by mandating the development and implementation of workplace violence prevention plans. The bill aims to safeguard health care providers and hospital staff from potential violent behavior occurring within hospital premises. By establishing structured protocols, the bill seeks to decrease incidents of violence, which can severely impact not only the individuals involved but also the overall hospital environment and patient care.
Contention
One notable point of contention surrounding HB 4110 involves how effectively the provisions will be enforced and the potential burden it may place on hospitals, particularly smaller facilities with limited resources. Critics may argue that while the intention is to enhance safety, the administrative requirements could lead to bureaucratic challenges that detract from patient care. Additionally, the bill outlines administrative penalties for non-compliance, which could lead to a debate on the appropriateness of punitive measures in a healthcare context, particularly when understanding the resource constraints of some hospitals.
Relating to the establishment of the office of community violence intervention and prevention within the Department of State Health Services and a grant program for violence intervention and prevention services.
Relating to the development and implementation of the Live Well Texas program to provide health benefit coverage to certain individuals; imposing penalties.
Relating to school district policies on dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to infection prevention and control programs and other measures for communicable diseases at certain long-term care facilities; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the development and implementation of the Live Well Texas program and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health benefit coverage to certain individuals; imposing penalties.
Relating to the development and implementation of the Live Well Texas program and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health benefit coverage to certain individuals; imposing penalties.
Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act of 2023; hospital nurse staffing and nurse workload committees requirements established, core staffing plan requirements modified, commissioner required to grade and publicly disclose hospital compliance, hospital preparedness and incident response action plan requirements modified, nursing facility employee scholarship eligibility modified, hospital nursing and health professional education loan forgiveness programs established/modified, and money appropriated.
Hospital and violence intervention team safety requirements established, hospitals required to have a secure online portal for reporting of violence incidents and threats of violence, de-escalation training required for all hospital health care workers, and report required.