Legislators believe nursing staffing ratio issue is not settled and will be coming to them

Nov. 20, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Although not as many legislatures turned up for the annual Legislative Reception presented by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, those who did agreed the issue of nursing ratios may not have been settled by the defeat of ballot question Number One in the recent election.

The reception provided an opportunity for business people to informally discuss issues with members of the General Court. This reporter noticed three local mayors – William Sapelli of Agawam, Richard Kos of Chicopee and Will Reichelt of West Springfield – as well as Springfield City councilor Jesse Lederman and Chicopee City Councilor Shane Brooks in attendance.

It was the state representatives and the state senators who were the featured guests, though.

State Rep. Bud Williams of Springfield said the controversy surrounding the question of nursing ratios “shows that something needs to be done. Most people didn’t understand it [the ballot question].”

Williams believes that there should be some “give and take on both sides” to further address the issue of how many nurses staff the various departments in the Commonwealth’s hospitals.

When asked what Williams plans to work on when the formal session opens in January, he said he would be filing legislation that would split mitigation money from the impact of MGM Springfield “equally through everywhere “ in the city.

He added, “It just can’t be downtown-centric.”

He envisions the funding to be used to rebuild sidewalks and establish police sub-stations in other parts of the city.

State Rep. Mike Finn said, that while he hasn’t heard from either side of the nursing issue, “My guess is it is not settled.”

He added, the legislation the state did adopt about nursing ratios “had no real teeth” as there are no penalties if hospitals were not following it. He believes that additional lobbying to address the issue again will be coming.

Finn will be continuing his work on a bill that would create tourism destination districts, which then could use cooperative marketing efforts. In the last session he said, “It gained a lot of traction.”

He is also working on a bill that would protect Massachusetts residents from the way online insurance companies lock in rates, another bill from the last session. He said that GEICO fought the bill “tooth and nail.”

State Sen. James Welch called the nursing question “a weighty issue” that won’t go away. Although voters “spoke pretty overwhelmingly” he believes the question of nursing ratios will come up soon to the Legislature.

Welch in continuing his efforts for healthcare reform and is looking forward to working with Gov. Charlie Baker. Although the House and Senate did not come up with an agreement during the last session, Welch believes the General Court will do so this session.

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