AHA-supported bipartisan legislation introduced in House and Senate would protect health care workers from violence

The Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R.3178/S.1600) — bipartisan legislation that would make it a crime to assault hospital workers, similar to the current federal law protecting airline and airport workers — was introduced May 5 in the House and Senate. Reps. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, are the House sponsors, and Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Angus King, I-Maine, are the Senate sponsors.  

In a statement today, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “Every day, health care workers bravely serve our communities, providing lifesaving care often under stressful circumstances. It is unacceptable that these dedicated caregivers regularly face the threat of violence while working to help patients heal. 

“Ensuring a safe working environment for health care providers must be a national priority. Acts of violence not only jeopardize the physical and psychological health of victims, but they also disrupt patient care and contribute to staff burnout and workforce shortages. Protecting the health care workforce is important for their safety and for the overall quality of care.  

“That’s why we are grateful to Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Angus King and Representatives Madeleine Dean and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for their leadership in introducing the Save Healthcare Workers Act. This bipartisan legislation would make it a federal crime to assault a hospital staff member on the job. Over the years, hospitals and health systems have implemented numerousocols to stem workplace violence but they need help. By enacting federal protections, Congress can create a powerful deterrent against workplace violence in hospitals and increase penalties for those who harm our caregivers. We urge Congress to support this legislation and stand ready to work with them to ensure it becomes law without delay.”