Central PA Medicine - February 2017 - 21

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Legislative Updates

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Highlights of the 2015-2016 Legislative
Session of Importance to Physicians

he Pennsylvania General Assembly
concluded its 199th regular session
in November, passing more than
50 pieces of legislation in the final
days of the two-year session. In total, 3,757
bills were introduced and considered by the
legislature in 2015 and 2016. Only 301 bills
- approximately 8 percent - were ultimately
passed and signed into law.
At last count, PAMED staff actively tracked
442 bills introduced during the 2015-2016
session that affect physicians, from proposals that
would directly impact the practice of medicine to
those that more generally relate to the provision
of health care in our state. This was a notable
increase from the 2013-2014 legislative session,
in which PAMED tracked 360 bills.

The House Professional Licensure Committee
held a public hearing on HB 765 in October
2015, during which PAMED testified alongside representatives from the PA Chapter of
the American Academy of Pediatrics, the PA
Association of Family Physicians, the PA Osteopathic Medical Association, and the National
Association for the Analysis of Healthcare Data
in opposition to CRNP independent practice.
PAMED spent a considerable amount of time
educating legislators and their staff about the
massive difference in education and training of
physicians and CRNPs, and why that mattered
to patient care. Ultimately, the Professional
Licensure Committee never held a vote on
HB 765.

our educational efforts and the advocacy of
physicians who answered our call for grassroots
action and reached out to their legislators, both
bills were defeated.
As we face relentless pressure from proponents
of CRNP independent practice in the coming
year, PAMED will continue to strongly oppose
the independent practice of CRNPs and support
the preservation of physician-led, team-based
care for all patients in Pennsylvania.
Opioid abuse

While dozens of bills were introduced this
session to address the current crisis of opioid
and heroin abuse facing the state, a handful of
It became clear early in the session, however, bills were identified as priorities by both the
that it would be difficult to prevent the advance- Governor and legislative leaders and ultimately
The 2015-2016 legislative session was certainly ment of SB 717 in particular. The expected received action before the end of the year.
as challenging as ever. Below is a review of what retirement of the bill's prime sponsor, Sen.
PAMED accomplished this session, what we Pat Vance, was a significant factor, as it is not
SB 1202 was approved by the Governor on
hope to build on in the coming year, and a uncommon for the legislature to give preferential Nov. 2, 2016. This new law (Act 124) will require
summary of some of the significant initiatives treatment to bills that retiring members have prescribers to complete 2 hours of continuing
advanced this session.
championed. Sen. Vance has been a long-time education as a portion of the hours required
champion for the CRNPs and is a nurse herself for biennial license renewal in the topic areas of
CRNP Independent Licensure
by training. In addition, SB 717 was amended pain management, identification of addiction,
in the Senate to require CRNPs to have a and the use of opioids. New licensees must
PAMED dedicated a significant amount of minimum of 3,600 hours and 3 years of post-li- complete 4 hours of this continuing education
time and resources this session to the successful censure practice experience before they could within 12 months of obtaining initial licensure.
defeat of legislation that would allow Certified gain independence. This amendment secured In addition, SB 1202 expanded the requireRegistered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs) to the support of the Hospital & Healthsystem ments for prescribers and dispensers to utilize
practice independently in Pennsylvania. Legisla- Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) for SB 717, the state's new prescription drug monitoring
tion was introduced in both chambers - HB a factor which had a considerable influence in program (PDMP). Previously, prescribers were
765 in the House of Representatives and SB the Senate. SB 717 passed the Senate on July only required to query the PDMP the first
717 in the Senate - to eliminate the current 12, 2016, by a vote of 40 to 10.
time they prescribe a controlled substance to a
requirement for CRNPs to collaborate with
patient and whenever they suspect potential for
physicians in order to diagnose, treat, and
In the end, neither HB 765 nor SB 717 abuse. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, prescribers will
prescribe drugs to patients.
were brought up for consideration in the additionally be required to query the PDMP
Continued on page 22
House of Representatives this session. Through
Central PA Medicine February 2017 21

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