The Patients of Massachusetts Need YOU at the State House on March 24!
reprinted from www.massnurses.org
Hearing Scheduled on Two Ballot Initiatives: The Patient Safety Act and the Hospital Profit Transparency and Fairness Act
Help Send the Message that Safe Patient Limits Save Lives & Taxpayer Dollars Should be Dedicated Exclusively to Safe Patient Care and Needed Services
When: Monday, March 24 at 11 a.m.
Where: Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston
The Health Care Financing Committee will hold its hearing on two ballot initiatives that will dramatically improve patient safety in Massachusetts hospitals, while also ensuring that taxpayer health care dollars are dedicated exclusively for patient care and needed services for all communities.
The Patient Safety Act (House Bill 3843) will set a safe maximum limit on the number of patients assigned to a nurse at one time, while also providing maximum flexibility to hospitals to adjust nurses’ patient assignments based on the specific needs of the patients.
The Hospital Profit Transparency and Fairness Act (House Bill 3844) will require hospitals to be transparent about their financial holdings and will limit and claw back excessive profits and exorbitant CEO compensation to ensure taxpayer dollars are dedicated exclusively to safe patient care and necessary services for all communities in the commonwealth.
This hearing is a crucial step in the progress toward placing these initiatives on the November 2014 ballot. A powerful showing by nurses and supporters of nurses that day is equally crucial in ensuring the ultimate success of these initiatives.
Our Goal? To fill every seat in the hearing room with an MNA nurse or supporter.
Our Ask? That YOU attend the March 24 hearing. This will send a powerful message to your legislators: Protecting patients is your number one concern, and passing these initiatives is the ONLY way to provide the level of care and safety they deserve.
Commit to the Patient Safety Act now by RSVPing for the hearing.
There will be a bus leaving from the MNA Region 1 office building in the Potpourri Plaza across from Stop & Shop, 241 King St. in Northampton at 7:30 a.m. on Monday 3/24. They will pick up additional passengers in Worcester and arrive at the State House in time for the 11 a.m. Hearing. They will leave the State House to return home around 12:30-1:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining them, you can respond to dscherrer@mnarn.org or call Diane at 781-363-3817.
For complete information, visit PatientSafetyAct.com.