Nurse Staffing Rules to be Rescinded by Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Nurse Staffing Rules to be Rescinded by Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Nurse staffing rules proposed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH, web site: staffing firms providing services in the state of Maryland to maintain an office in the state and to have that office directed by a registered nurse. Quality of care standards would also have been set at an unusually high level more appropriate for health care facilities providing patient care.

The ASA and several nurse staffing agencies met with DHMH to discuss the proposed rules and present specific objections regarding the severe limitations that the new rules would have presented to staffing firms. ASA also retained in-state legal counsel to further express objections and expects that the new rules that will be proposed in November will be more consistent with the operating procedures of staffing agencies.