Miller-Meeks, Dean Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Healthcare Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA) have introduced H.R. 3178, the Save Healthcare Workers Act, a bipartisan bill that would create federal penalties for individuals who knowingly and intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees. Modeled after existing protections for flight crews and airport staff, the bill is aimed at addressing the rising violence facing healthcare professionals across the country.
“As a physician, I know how important it is to ensure hospital personnel feel safe to provide quality care for their patients. With rising rates of violence in healthcare settings, burnout, and stress, it is critical we do all we can to improve workplace quality for healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks. “The Save Healthcare Workers Act will advance legal protections to discourage such violence in America’s hospitals. I thank Rep. Dean for joining me in introducing this bill to protect hospital employees across Iowa and America.”
“Healthcare workers devote their lives to our well-being — yet hospital employees face more and more incidents of violence in the workplace with no federal protections in place,” said Rep. Dean. “The legal penalties in the Save Healthcare Workers Act already exist for other workforces, like commercial flight crews, and extending these protections to hospital employees is simply the right thing to do. I’m grateful to work with Dr. Miller-Meeks on our bipartisan bill to ensure safety for our healthcare workers.”
Background:
In recent years, healthcare workers—especially those in hospitals—have reported increased incidents of violence and harassment that disrupt patient care and worsen stress and burnout in an already strained profession. Despite these trends, there is currently no federal law that protects hospital employees from targeted assault or intimidation.
The bill includes protections for patients who may be mentally incapacitated due to illness or substance use and does not penalize individuals acting without intent.
The Save Healthcare Workers Act is endorsed by major healthcare and hospital organizations, including the American Hospital Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association, and America’s Essential Hospitals.