Oppose Reducing the Quality of Health Care

OPPOSE REDUCING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
Parts R & Q of S8307/A8807
Health and Mental Hygiene
Executive Budget Bill

The New York State AFL-CIO, representing 2.5 million union members, retirees, and their families oppose the above-referenced parts of the executive budget proposal.

The proposed legislation would authorize the state of New York to enter the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact and expand the scope of practice for certified nurse assistants (CNAs). These proposals are designed to address staffing shortages in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities; however, they both could put the quality of health care in jeopardy, and at the same time they would do little to address the core issues causing staffing shortages across the state.

Part Q would expand the scope of practice for various health care titles. The New York State AFL-CIO is specifically opposed to the proposal that would authorize CNAs employed in nursing homes to function as certified medication aides and perform “medication-related tasks”. This proposal will add to the already onerous duties required of both RNs and CNAs and reduce hands-on patient care time needed to provide quality care. Simply giving more work and responsibility to an already understaffed and overwhelmed nursing workforce is not an appropriate way to address staffing problems in nursing homes or other health care facilities.

Part R is The Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact. This would allow New York to enter into a binding arrangement with other member states to allow Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to practice in New York without meeting New York’s licensure standards. Many compact states have significantly lower licensure requirements than New York, which has high licensure, education, and continuing education standards that ensure the highest level of training, competency, and quality of health care. Lowering those standards to allow out-of-state nurses to practice in New York is not an effective, prudent or safe way to increase the number of health care workers at the bedside.

Therefore, this Federation urges these parts of the executive budget proposal to be defeated.

For further information, contact the Legislative Department at 518-436-8516.