Colorado Legislators Look to Address Workplace Violence in Healthcare with Senate Bill 25-166
In response to this growing workplace violence crisis in healthcare, Colorado Senator Kyle Mullica proposed Senate Bill 25-166, also known as Health-Care Workplace Violence Incentive Payments. This bill acknowledges the increasing threats faced by healthcare workers and aims to promote proactive measures that help prevent and mitigate the severity of workplace violence in healthcare.
Summary of Colorado’s Health-Care Workplace Violence Incentive Bill
Senate Bill 25-166 establishes financial incentives for hospitals to implement and enforce workplace violence prevention measures. It mandates the creation of performance metrics, the development of reporting requirements, and compliance checks to ensure healthcare facilities actively work to reduce incidents of violence.
Performance Metrics for Hospital Incentive Payments
The bill introduces a workplace violence performance metric as part of the quality incentive payments for hospitals. These performance metrics have not yet been outlined. As mentioned above, the assembled stakeholder group would provide guidance for these metrics. To qualify for additional funding, hospitals will need to implement solutions that allow them to actively track against these metrics and meet the established thresholds. In the bill’s current draft, hospitals with fewer than 100 beds are exempt from reporting requirements but are still encouraged to adopt preventive measures.
Stakeholder Group to Develop Standards
By September 1, 2025, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will assemble a stakeholder group to: Develop recommended workplace violence prevention metrics. Identify federal or private funding sources to enhance hospitals’ security. Draft legislative recommendations to further workplace safety.
This group will include hospital representatives, Medicaid providers, healthcare associations, nurses and state officials.
Hospital Policy Requirements and Compliance
If passed, hospitals would also be required to complete the following by July 1, 2026. Implement a formal workplace violence prevention policy. Submit compliance reports to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Hospitals that comply with these requirements will receive confirmation that they meet the workplace violence prevention component of the quality incentive payments program.
The Impact of SB 25-166 on Healthcare Workers
By tying financial incentives to workplace safety, SB 25-166 encourages hospitals to prioritize the well-being of their staff. With the right strategies and technologies, such as panic buttons and emergency notification systems, hospitals can proactively prevent workplace violence in healthcare, protect their employees and create a safer healthcare environment.
Reach out today to learn how 911Cellular’s critical incident management solutions have helped protect hospital teams like yours.
