Legislation in Harrisburg: A Quick Glance at the Bills

Are you curious about what’s going on with health care in the Capitol but don’t have time to keep up with the news?

The Pennsylvania Medical Society is here to help. We’ve prepared the table below, so that you can get a quick update on some of the key health care legislation under consideration. Follow the links to get more in-depth information.

Bill 

Description

Status
Acupuncture treatment
(House Bill 1764) 		Would allow acupuncture treatment indefinitely if patient shows no symptoms of medical condition Passed by House, being considered by Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee
Audiologist scope of practice
(House Bill 1653)		 Would allow audiologists to diagnose and treat hearing problems without having the patient examined by a physician Referred to House Professional Licensure Committee

Cell phone driving
(House Bill 2070 and House Bill 67)

 HB 2070—Would prohibit the use of handheld cell phones and texting while driving
HB 67—Would prohibit young drivers from using handheld cell phones and texting while driving		 HB 2070—Passed by House, being considered by Senate
HB 67—Passed by House and amended and passed by Senate. House rejected Senate amendments.
Chronic Care Commission
(House Bill 2157)		 Would renew the Chronic Care Commission Approved by House Health and Human Services Committee, awaiting vote by full House
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 and then re-referred to House Professional Licensure Committee
Fair contracting
(House Bill 1759) 		Sets minimum standards for contracts Referred to House Insurance Committee
False claims
(House Bill 1679) 		Would create a state version of the federal False Claims Act Approved by House Health and Human Services Committee; not action expected before summer recess
HIV testing
(Senate Bill 291) 		Would make HIV testing part of routine medical care Approved by Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, sent to full Senate for vote, which is expected prior to summer recess.
ID badge standardization
(House Bill 1482)		 Would require health care providers to wear standardized ID badges with a photo and licensure information Passed by House and 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.
Insurance fraud
(House Bills 1750 and 2154, Senate Bill 1181) 		Would grant insurers new powers and protections HB 1750 and 2154—Committed to House Appropriations Committee
SB 1181—Committed to Senate Appropriations Committee

Lyme disease education      
(Senate Bill 1199)

 Would increase professional and public education on Lyme disease and endorse a specific course of treatment Referred to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Oncology parity
(House Bill 1865) 		Would require insurers to cover oral chemotherapy drugs in the same way as IV chemotherapy Approved by House, sent to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Pathology disclosure
(House Bill 2521)		 Would endorse disclosure of pathology charges to patients Passed by House, sent to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
PHIX
(House Bill 2106) 		Would renew Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange Approved by House Insurance Committee, sent to House Appropriations Committee
Self referral
(House Bill 2522) 		Would limit self-referral Tabled by House Insurance Committee while committee gathers more information and makes changes
Tanning regulations
(Senate Bills 460)		 Would regulate tanning facilities and set age requirements for who may use them Passed unanimously by state Senate, sent to House Health and Human Services Committee
Tort bills
(House Bills 1444, 1095, 2202, 2123)
HB 1444—Would allow trial lawyers to quantify damages for pain and suffering
HB 1095 and 2202—Would expand the types of damages that can be recovered and who can recover them
HB 2123—Would void alternative dispute resolutions executed prior to treatment 		All approved by House Judiciary Committee, re-committed to House Appropriations Committee

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Comments: 1


HB 1764 seems quite pointless at this point as a patient will always have a Sx of a condition wheather it be a TCM maifistation of a western medical condition. People deserve the right to see an Acupuncturist without being forced to make a special trip to a Medical Doctor to do so.

MikeD LAc. at 7/27/2010 3:30:04 PM

Last Updated: 7/22/2010
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