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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06251985 - 1.57 t S7 TO. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Contra Costa DATE: June 19, 1985 County SUBJECT: Legislation SB 274 (Watson) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• Adopt a position of support for SB 274 by Senator Diane Watson which would require the State Department of Health Services to develop an incentive mechanism for long-term health care facilities to contract with or employ registered nurses with a master' s degree in gerontological nursing or nurse practitioners by December 31, 1986. BACKGROUND• Under existing law, the State Department of. Health Services is required to determine the minimum number of equivalent nursing hours per patient required in nursing homes. In determining-these ratios, the hours worked by registered nurses (RN) and licensed vocational nurses (LVN) are combined and given twice the credit of hours worked by aides, nursing assistants and orderlies. No additional credit is given for hiring an RN with a master' s degree or a nurse practitioner. Since these classifications are more highly educated and skilled, they usually cost more to hire. However, since their hours count the same as an LVN or non-master' s degree RN, most nursing homes are not going to go to the additional expense of hiring or contracting with master ' s degree RN' s or nurse practitioners, even if these individuals would provide a higher level of care to patients. SB 274 directs that some unspecified incentive mechanism be designed which would encourage nursing homes to hire master' s degree RN's and nurse practitioners. In addition, SB274 specifies that the time worked by such individuals is not to be included in the ratios of nursing hours per patient. Finally, SB 274 specifies that a master' s level RN or nurse practitioner employed under this incentive provision shall not simultaneously be employed as a director of nursing. Such an incentive mechanism should serve to increase the level of care provided to nursing home patients and thereby help avoid premature or inappropriate hospitalization in an acute hospital, including county hospital.- This will serve to reduce the overall cost of medical care and improve the level and quality of care provided in participating nursing CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:X YES SIGNATURE: e, _X_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE _X APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON •rune 959 1985 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD County Administrator OF SUPERVISORS N THE DATE SHOWN. Health Services Director cc: Senator Diane Watson ATTESTED `l s Assemblyman John Vasconcellos, Chairman IL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Assembly Ways & Means Committee euPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Assemblymen Baker, Campbell & Isenberg M382/7-88 BY DEPUTY 7 Page 2 homes. Because of these factors, the bill is consistent with the positions taken previously by the Board of Supervisors to improve conditions in nursing homes and therefore deserves the Board' s support. SB 274 passed the Senate April 11 by a vote of 29: 0. The bill passed the Assembly Committee on Aging and Longterm Care on May 7 by a vote of 6:4 and is presently awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.