Bill Overview
Title: Travel Nursing Agency Transparency Study Act
Description: This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of travel nurse agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study must consider matters that include agency business and payment practices, the effects of travel nurse agency practices on workforce shortages, and the acquisition of travel nurse agencies by private equity firms.
Sponsors: Rep. Murphy, Gregory [R-NC-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals associated with or impacted by travel nurse agencies
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill focuses on travel nurse agencies, which employ travel nurses who temporarily fill positions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
- Travel nurse agencies play a significant role in addressing workforce shortages in healthcare, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The study will provide insights on business and payment practices, which directly affect the financial and operational aspects of travel nurse employment.
- Understanding the impact of private equity acquisition of these agencies is crucial as it may influence the management and practices within the industry.
- Hospital and healthcare system administrators will also be indirectly affected as they interact with travel nurse agencies for staffing solutions.
- The findings of the study could lead to changes in regulations affecting travel nurse agencies and their practices, impacting their operations and strategies.
- While not directly altering conditions for patients, the findings could have secondary effects on patient care depending on staffing outcomes.
Reasoning
- The policy study focuses specifically on travel nurse agencies and their practices, targeting a unique sector of the healthcare workforce.
- Since the policy involves a study, its direct impact on individuals might be limited initially, with more tangible effects seen through potential legislative or regulatory changes following the study's conclusions.
- Those directly involved with or impacted by travel nurse agencies, such as travel nurses themselves, agency staff, hospital administrators, and potentially patients, are the target population for the interviews.
- Budget constraints imply that the study will need to be well-targeted and efficiently conducted, capturing necessary data without extensive funding.
Simulated Interviews
Travel Nurse (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a travel nurse, the agency practices directly impact my workload and compensation.
- Transparency could lead to fairer pay structures and better job satisfaction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Hospital Administrator (New York, New York)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding agency practices can help optimize our staffing solutions.
- Better transparency might reduce staffing costs and improve workforce morale.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Nursing Agency Executive (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The study may shed light on unfair practices but could also lead to over-regulation.
- We need guidance, not restrictions that could harm the business model.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Travel Nurse (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Agencies should ensure fair pay and reliable work placements despite business pressures.
- I'm hopeful for clarity and fairness in agency operations after the study.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Private Equity Investor (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency may lead to tighter regulations impacting investment strategies.
- Detailed insights into agency operations can guide better investment choices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Registered Nurse (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding agency practices may improve integration of travel nurses into teams.
- Ultimately, this could lead to better patient care outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Hospital CEO (Miami, Florida)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data from this study could inform more sustainable staffing models.
- Potential cost savings and efficiency improvements are expected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Healthcare Consultant (San Francisco, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This study will add valuable data to optimize hospital staffing models using travel nurses.
- Could enhance my consultancy offering with new insights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
University Professor (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Exciting opportunity to understand agency dynamics and improve workforce policy.
- The study could contribute to academic knowledge and inform future research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Travel Nurse (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to seeing more transparency and fairness as a result of the study.
- Hopeful for systemic improvements that the study might initiate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1800000, High: $2200000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The primary consideration is the scope and scale of the study, as this dictates the resources required.
- The effectiveness and efficiency of the GAO in conducting similar studies provide context for cost estimates.
- Potential interest or political implications regarding travel nurse agency operations and private equity ownership might influence study focus and breadth.