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5/13/2022
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Rep. Baginski’s bill that calls for retention bonuses for frontline health care workers heard by committee
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski’s (D-Dist. 17, Cranston) legislation which calls for $2,500 retention payments for frontline health care workers was heard by the House Finance Committee last night.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and face the future of health care in Rhode Island, we need our hospitals to be ready to recognize and address the challenges ahead, which includes the exodus of health care staff. To push back against this troubling, although understandable trend, it is only fitting that we support our dedicated and burnt out health care workers as they have cared for us during the pandemic. In order to rebuild our health care system with the appropriate and needed staffing levels, this bill will provide a solution to a problem that threatens us all,” said Representative Baginski.
The bill (2022-H 8076) would provide for a $200 million fund to administer retention payments of $2,500 for certain health care workers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic without regard to vaccination status.
Health care workers are defined as any person who is temporarily or permanently employed by or at, or who serves as a volunteer in, or has an employment contract with, a health care facility, and has or may have direct contact with a patient in that health care facility. This person may include, but not be limited to, a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nursing assistant, therapist, technician, clinician, behavioral analyst, social worker, occupational, physical or speech therapist, phlebotomist, emergency medical service practitioner, dental personnel, pharmacist, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility.
The legislation also calls for a $200 million fund for payments to acute care or psychiatric hospitals who can demonstrate losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill was held for further study by the committee.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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