River Bend Times

Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Madeleine Dean have introduced a bipartisan bill, H.R. 3178, known as the Save Healthcare Workers Act. This legislation aims to establish federal penalties for those who intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees. The bill is inspired by existing protections for flight crews and airport staff and seeks to address the increasing violence against healthcare professionals nationwide.

Dr. Miller-Meeks emphasized the importance of ensuring safety for hospital personnel, stating, “As a physician, I know how important it is to ensure hospital personnel feel safe to provide quality care for their patients." She noted that rising violence in healthcare settings contributes to burnout and stress among professionals. "The Save Healthcare Workers Act will advance legal protections to discourage such violence in America’s hospitals," she added.

Rep. Dean highlighted the lack of federal protections currently available for hospital employees despite their critical role in public well-being. “Healthcare workers devote their lives to our well-being — yet hospital employees face more and more incidents of violence in the workplace with no federal protections in place,” she said. Dean pointed out that similar legal penalties exist for other workforces like commercial flight crews and expressed gratitude for collaborating with Dr. Miller-Meeks on this initiative.

Recent years have seen an increase in reports of violence and harassment against healthcare workers, particularly those working in hospitals. These incidents disrupt patient care and exacerbate stress and burnout within an already challenging profession. Currently, there is no federal law protecting hospital employees from targeted assault or intimidation.

The proposed legislation includes provisions that protect patients who may be mentally incapacitated due to illness or substance use, ensuring they are not penalized if acting without intent.

Major healthcare organizations such as the American Hospital Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association, and America’s Essential Hospitals endorse the Save Healthcare Workers Act.