Nurse staffing bill
On Tuesday, April 22 the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Committee held an informational hearing on a bill to establish mandatory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios (H.F. 3042, Rep. Erin Murphy). However, because the bill did not meet committee deadlines, the measure will not advance this session.

The same issue had been proposed earlier in the session but failed to progress. The bill on the matter was heard this week for informational purposes only, so that Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL) would have an opportunity to present the bill to the committee and to allow committee members the opportunity to ask questions.

During the hearing, two Minnesota hospital leaders testified against mandated ratios. Mayo Clinic Nurse Administrator Diane Twedell and Christine Milbrath, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare vice president of nursing and patient services, spoke before the committee.

Later in the hearing, committee chairman Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) set clear expectations that nurses and hospitals should work together on the issue over the summer, and that the committee will listen to proposals on the matter again next session.

Revised Prairie St. John's measure passes finance division
On Tuesday, April 22, the House Health and Human Services Finance Division passed a revised proposal put forward by Prairie St. John's to build a mental-health hospital in Woodbury.

Under H.F. 3539, the psychiatric health-care organization would build a 66-bed mental-health hospital for patients under age 21. An earlier proposal sought approval for a 144-bed facility for all ages.

The Fargo, N.D.-based health-care provider seeks an exemption to the state's moratorium on construction of new hospital facilities.

During Tuesday's hearing, chaired by Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth), the scope of the proposed project was changed through passage of a successful amendment.

The next stop for the request is the House floor. The Senate companion bill is not progressing, so it is unclear how or whether the issue will advance this session.

Budget and reform conference committees
Both the health-care reform and budget conference committees continued their work this week. On the budget issues, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said this week that he would consider using $125 million, instead of the $250 million he had originally proposed, from Health Care Access Fund dollars to patch the state budget shortfall. Pawlenty also stated, however, that other off-setting cuts would need to be found to make up the difference.