‘Uber for nurses’: gig-work apps lobby to deregulate healthcare, report finds
Summary
A new report shows that companies offering gig work for nurses, similar to Uber’s model for drivers, are pushing to change laws so they have fewer rules to follow. These companies use artificial intelligence (AI) to set pay, track work, and let nurses bid against each other for shifts, often lowering wages and reducing worker protections. The report warns this could hurt nurses’ rights, pay, and patient safety as these platforms grow and gain government contracts.Key Facts
- Several nurse gig platforms have reached valuations of $1 billion, attracting private investment.
- These platforms use AI to fix pay rates, monitor performance, and decide future work opportunities for nurses.
- Nurses can bid with hourly wage offers for shifts, with the lowest bid often winning the job.
- Some platforms deduct points from nurses for cancelling or showing up late, affecting future work chances.
- Since 2022, lawmakers in 17 states have proposed bills to exempt gig nursing platforms from healthcare staffing rules.
- States like Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota are considering laws that reduce regulations on these gig companies.
- Some states already exempt gig nurses from worker protection and unemployment insurance laws.
- The companies are also lobbying federally for laws that allow them to get government contracts and reduce liability for patient injuries.
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