Lawmakers consider payment limits to temp nurses

Over a dozen states, including Missouri, New York and Texas, have proposed legislation to reign in high prices from travel nurse staffing agencies. A Missouri bill, for example, would allow felony charges against health care staffing agencies that substantially raise their prices during a declared emergency. Lawmakers are considering limits in the absence of federal legislation after prices for travel nurses surged to unprecedented levels during the pandemic. A Becker’s Hospital Review data analysis found travel nurse salaries rose substantially from January 2020 to December 2021. Although the demand for travel nurses has subsided, their prices are still considerably higher than before the pandemic. (Kaiser Health News article, 3/17/23)