Highmark Health Options, the company responsible for a large portion of Medicaid recipients in Delaware, has reversed its earlier decision to decrease reimbursements for nurse practitioners in the First State while still fully reimbursing physicians for the same services, Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown said Thursday.
Citing findings of the report, State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston has introduced a measure to increase spending on clinical training sites for nurses. The amendment to a multifaceted Health and Human Services bill asks for a total of $6 million over two fiscal years.
Nurses picketed Wednesday outside MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, for changes related to staffing and breaks. "The vast majority of the 750 nurses at the hospital support the picket," according to the Washington State Nurses Association.
Newly announced limits on visas for foreign nurses threatens to further a staffing strain on hospitals, nursing homes, and other major health employers.