Senator Manchester Introduces Bill Addressing Staffing Shortages for Healthcare Facilities

COLUMBUS—State Senator Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) presented sponsor testimony before the Senate Health Committee today on Senate Bill 423, which establishes standards for independent healthcare professionals to utilize technology-based platforms to connect with nursing homes and other facilities facing staffing shortages.

"Healthcare facilities across Ohio are facing staffing shortages with limited ability to connect to independent professionals who can fill those needs," said Senator Manchester. "This legislation establishes standards in Ohio law for technology-based staffing platforms that have emerged as a tool to help connect qualified healthcare professionals with open shifts in real time. By allowing healthcare facilities to access the staff they need, Ohioans can have confidence they will receive proper care and treatment across the Buckeye State."

Senate Bill 423 establishes a clear framework to ensure technology-based worker platforms and professionals seeking to operate as payor and independent contractor do so under a clear, consistent, and protective framework. The legislation sets criteria for platforms and professionals to abide by in order to be considered 1099 independent contractors and not an employee. The requirements set in the bill are the following: 

• The platform does not assign shifts to healthcare professionals.
• The professional is not required to accept any shift and cannot be penalized for declining shifts.
• The platform does not restrict professionals from working with other platforms or facilities.
• The platform does not require the professional to use non-competes.

The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health Committee. Click here to follow the bill's status.

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