California hospitals will be subject to surprise inspections and liable for up to $30,000 in fines for violating the state’s two-decade-old nurse-to-patient ratios starting Jan. 1.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 227, a labor-backed bill that requires the California Department of Public Health to make periodic unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with nurse-to-patient ratios.
Facilities face fines of $15,000 for initial violations and $30,000 for subsequent violations that occur within three years of the initial fine.
The state uses a documented patient classification system to determine appropriate ratios. Hospitals can avoid penalties by showing that staffing level fluctuation ...
Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:
See Breaking News in Context
Bloomberg Law provides trusted coverage of current events enhanced with legal analysis.
Already a subscriber?
Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.