HAP Applauds SAVE Act Reintroduction

Legislation would add federal protections for health care workers

Harrisburg, PA (April 20, 2023) – The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) supports the reintroduction of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, which would strengthen federal laws to protect health care workers from violence and abuse.

The bipartisan effort is co-led by a member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), who reintroduced the bill along with Representative Larry Bucshon, MD (R-Ind.).

“By passing the SAVE Act, Congress can send a strong message that assaulting or abusing a health care professional is never acceptable while also empowering hospitals to improve safety for their teams,” HAP President and CEO Andy Carter said. “HAP and Pennsylvania’s hospital community thank Representatives Dean and Bucshon for their leadership on this important issue.”

The SAVE Act aims to address violence against health care workers by:

• Establishing federal, criminal penalties for those who knowingly assault and intimidate hospital employees. The bill includes enhanced penalties for the use of a dangerous weapon that results in injury and acts committed during a public emergency, as well as exceptions for individuals who may be mentally incapacitated due to illness or substance use.
• Authorizing $25 million per year in grant funding over the next decade for initiatives to reduce violence and intimidation in hospitals.

Background:  Dean and Bucshon first introduced the SAVE Act last year and have reintroduced the legislation for consideration by the new Congress. In August 2022, Dean convened a roundtable of Pennsylvania clinical and hospital leaders to learn about the strain that violence and abuse are putting on hospital teams and how the SAVE Act would help.