House introduces bill to protect health care workers

Reps. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., introduced the AONL-supported Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act on June 7. The AONL and American Hospital Association (AHA)-supported legislation would give health care workers the same legal protections against assault and intimidation that flight crews and airport workers have under federal law. “The surge in assaults against the health care workforce cannot continue and we must do everything we can to protect them,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said. “Hospitals and health systems are committed to ensuring a safe work environment for our employees.” The AHA urges members to contact their House members to cosponsor the bipartisan SAVE Act. (AHA News article, 6/7/22)