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Ch. 258
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2000 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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WHEREAS, These changes have led to a number of employment options
becoming available to nurses that did not exist previously, making it difficult for
employers of nurses to recruit and retain qualified nursing personnel; and
WHEREAS, In Maryland, the average age of the practicing nurse in the
workforce is 46 years old; and
WHEREAS, Nursing school enrollments have dropped between 10 and 15%; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, approximately 2,085 nurses did not renew their licenses to
practice in Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The current shortage is expected to worsen because of the declines
in nursing school enrollments and the significant number of nurses expected to retire
over the next decade; and
WHEREAS, Severe cutbacks in the federal Medicare program under the 1997
Balanced Budget Act, state budgetary pressures related to the Medicaid program,
continued pressure from insurers to reduce their costs and to retrospectively deny
payment for services rendered, and recent cuts to hospital rates by the Health
Services Cost Review Commission have made it extremely difficult for many
providers to keep up with other employers in salaries and benefits and to recruit and
retain qualified nursing personnel; and
WHEREAS, The increasing reliance on temporary employment agencies to meet
nursing personnel needs further complicates the situation as continuity of care is
disrupted, quality of patient care is jeopardized, and costs pressures are further
increased; and
WHEREAS, Because of the multifaceted nature of these problems, it is critical
that all of the interested and affected parties cooperate and collaborate in the
development of solutions; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article - Health Occupations
SUBTITLE 7B. STATEWIDE COMMISSION ON THE CRISIS IN NURSING.
8-7B-01,
(A) THERE IS A STATEWIDE COMMISSION ON THE CRISIS IN NURSING.
(B) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS OF AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:
(1) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE;
(2) THE SECRETARY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OR
THE SECRETARYS DESIGNEE;
(3) THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, OR THE SECRETARY'S DESIGNEE;
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- 1576 -
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