A North Carolina House Health Committee approved a bill that would establish new employment standards for hospitals and ASCs, the Winston-Salem Journal reports.
What you should know:
1. The bill would establish certification, training and licensure requirements for surgical employees.
2. It would require verification that the employee had two years of surgical technology employment before Dec. 31, 2019.
3. The bill would grant exceptions for hospitals and ASCs that can prove a shortage of surgical technologists prevented them from hiring employees who meet the state requirements.
4. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services could take "adverse action" against hospitals and surgery centers for violating the requirements.
5. The bill will be reviewed by the House Rules and Operations Committee. If approved and signed into law, it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2020.