AN ACT CONCERNING HOSPITAL STAFFING AND PATIENT ACCESS TO DEEP SEDATION AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Department" means the Department of Public Health; and

(2) "Hospital" means an establishment for the lodging, care and treatment of persons suffering from disease or other abnormal physical or mental conditions and includes inpatient psychiatric services in general hospitals.

(b) On and after July 1, 2009, each hospital licensed by the department pursuant to chapter 368v of the general statutes shall, as a condition of continued licensure, submit to the department a prospective nurse staffing plan with a written certification that the nurse staffing plan is sufficient to provide adequate and appropriate delivery of health care services to patients in the ensuing period of licensure. Such plan shall promote a collaborative practice in the hospital that enhances patient care and the level of services provided by nurses and other members of the hospital's patient care team.

(c) Each hospital shall establish a hospital staffing committee to assist in the preparation of the nurse staffing plan required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Registered nurses employed by the hospital to provide direct patient care shall account for not less than fifty per cent of the membership of each hospital's staffing committee. Each hospital, in collaboration with its staffing committee, shall develop and implement the prospective nurse staffing plan. Such plan shall: (1) Include the minimum professional skill mix for each patient care unit in the hospital, including, but not limited to, inpatient services, critical care and the emergency department; (2) identify the hospital's employment practices concerning the use of temporary and traveling nurses; (3) set forth the level of administrative staffing in each patient care unit of the hospital that ensures direct care staff are not utilized for administrative functions; (4) set forth the hospital's process for internal review of the nurse staffing plan; (5) identify collective bargaining agreements that the hospital is a party to and certify the hospital's compliance with such agreements; and (6) include the hospital's mechanism of obtaining input from direct care staff, including nurses and other members of the hospital's patient care team, in the development of a nurse staffing plan.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, amended, renewed or continued in this state on or after October 1, 2008, shall provide coverage for a medically appropriate level of deep sedation or general anesthesia for any medical procedure requiring such sedation or anesthesia.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, amended, renewed or continued in this state on or after October 1, 2008, shall provide coverage for a medically appropriate level of deep sedation or general anesthesia for any medical procedure requiring such sedation or anesthesia.

Statement of Purpose:

To ensure adequate staffing in our hospitals and better plan for future nursing needs.