News Releases

The Center for Health Affairs Urges U.S. House Members to Support the SAVE Act

The Center for Health Affairs this week urged the Northeast Ohio delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives to sign on in support of a bill intended to protect healthcare workers from abuse.

H.R. 7961, the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, sponsored by Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN), would extend to healthcare workers federal protections against workplace violence, similar to those afforded to aircraft and airport employees. Introduced last week, the bill is currently in the House Committee on the Judiciary and has so far picked up two additional cosponsors.

Also supported by the American Hospital Association (AHA), the bill is in response to an uptick in abuse being experienced by healthcare workers and cites a report that found that the incidence rate for workplace violence against healthcare workers had steadily increased since 2011. AHA has reported on recent studies under which 44% of nurses reported experiencing physical violence and 68% reported experiencing verbal abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the legislation, someone who knowingly assaults or intimidates an individual employed by a hospital or related medical facility can be fined or sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, with stronger penalties under certain circumstances, including for the use of a weapon.

Workplace violence has severe consequences for the entire healthcare system. Not only does violence cause physical and psychological injury for healthcare workers, workplace violence and intimidation make it more difficult for nurses, doctors and other staff to provide quality patient care. This legislation would extend important protections for healthcare workers who dedicate their professional lives to caring for patients and who have endured significant stress during these pandemic years.