|
Bill
|
Description
|
Status
|
Acupuncture treatment
(House Bill 1764) |
Would allow for acupuncture treatment without a medical diagnosis |
Referred to House Professional Licensure Committee, public hearing possible. |
|
Cell phone driving
(Senate Bill 459, House Bill 538, House Bill 2070, Senate Bill 143)
|
Would prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while driving |
SB 459—Referred to Senate Transportation Committee
HB 538—Referred to House Transportation Committee. Similar language amended into HB 67, but amendment was defeated 95-100.
HB 2070—Would prohibit texting while driving. Issue is gaining traction with possible movement in early 2010.
SB 143—Passed by Senate, being considered by House Transportation Committee. |
Certificate of need
(House Bill 247 and House Bill 1405) |
HB 247—Would require certificate of need (CON) before a major equipment purchase or improvement and limit self-referral
HB 1405—Would limit self-referral |
HB 247—Referred to the House Insurance Committee. Society testified at public hearing
HB 1405— Referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Amendments in the works, and bill could begin to move in early 2010. The Society opposes. |
Credentialing
(Senate Bill 1046 and House Bill 1912) |
Would improve physician credentialing with insurers |
SB 1046—Referred to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
HB 1912—Referred to House Insurance Committee |
Definition of surgery
(House Bill 1188) |
Defines ophthalmic surgery and restricts to medical doctors |
Approved by House Professional Licensure Committee, re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee. |
Fair contracting
(House Bill 1759) |
Sets minimum standards for contracts |
Referred to House Insurance Committee |
HIV testing
(Senate Bill 291) |
Would make HIV testing part of routine medical care |
Referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee |
ID badge standardization
(House Bill 1879, House Bill 1482, Senate Bill 306) |
Would require health care providers to wear standardized ID badges with a photo and licensure information |
HB 1879—Referred to House Professional Licensure Committee
HB 1482—Referred to House Professional Licensure Committee. Committee action possible soon. Society lobbyists pursuing amendments.
SB 306—Referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee |
Imaging test results
(House Bill 1358) |
Requires that a summary of diagnostic imaging test results be sent directly to patients |
Approved by the House Health and Human Services Committee, referred to House Appropriations Committee. |
|
Lyme disease education
(Senate Bill 346 and House Bill 894)
|
Would increase professional and public education on Lyme disease; HB 894 also endorses a specific course of treatment for the disease |
SB 346—Referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
HB 894—Re-committed to House Appropriations Committee. |
Mcare phase-out
(Senate Bill 1018, Senate Bill 509, House Bill 1913) |
Would phase-out and retire the Mcare Fund, while easing the financial burden on physicians |
SB 1018 and 509—Referred to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
HB 1913—Referred to House Insurance Committee |
Medical school loan forgiveness
(Senate Bill 527 and House Bill 891) |
Would forgive medical school loans for physicians who agree to practice in Pennsylvania for 10 years |
SB 527—Referred to Senate Education Committee
HB 891—Referred to House Health and Human Services Committee |
Nurse anesthetist licensing
(House Bill 1866) |
Establishes nurse anesthetist certification and removes requirement for physician supervision |
Referred to the House Professional Licensure Committee. Society president testified at hearing on Jan. 26. |
Physician apology
(Senate Bill 208, Senate Bill 626, House Bill 1804, House Bill 1843) |
Would protect physician apologies for adverse medical outcomes from being used against them in court |
SB 208 and 626—Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
HB 1804 and 1843—Referred to House Judiciary Committee |
Prohibiting alternative dispute resolutions
(House Bill 2123) |
This legislation would void any alternative dispute resolution (ADR) executed prior to treatment. While not widely used, an ADR is an agreement between a physician and patient stipulating that potential legal action be resolved outside the courtroom. |
HB 2123—Referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The Society opposes the bill. |
| Tanning regulations (Senate Bills 460 and 461) |
Would regulate tanning facilities and set age requirements for who may use them |
SB 460—Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 461—Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee |