The Save Healthcare Workers Act creates a new federal crime for assaulting hospital workers during the performance of their duties, establishing penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines, with enhanced penalties of up to 20 years for assaults involving weapons, bodily injury, or those occurring during declared public emergencies. The bill applies to a broad range of medical facilities including traditional hospitals, children's hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities. It also establishes a federal grant program administered by the Attorney General to help hospitals implement violence-prevention measures such as security technology, staff de-escalation training, and coordination with law enforcement, with $25 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2034. The legislation addresses what Congress characterizes as a serious and growing problem, noting that healthcare workers experience workplace violence at rates five times higher than workers in other industries, a trend that has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and disrupts patient care quality.
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