Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Winter 2019 - 33

The issue of Lyme disease continues to evolve in the
state legislature as lawmakers try to respond to constituent
concerns about treatment protocols for treating the disease
and for insurance coverage. PAMED expects to see additional
legislation introduced related to Lyme and other tick-borne
diseases in the next session.
PAMED supported the Pennsylvania Academy of
Dermatology regarding legislation (HB 1228) that allows
school students to have sunscreen at school in order to apply
and reapply as needed for recess, field trips, sporting events,
and other extracurricular activities. The governor signed Act
105 into law on Oct. 24, 2018, and the earliest effective date is
Dec. 23, 2018.
Physicians help build healthy communities in every corner
of Pennsylvania. Combining legislative advocacy efforts with
PAMED's "Building Healthy Communities" - a project that
provides an outlet for physician members to educate the public
on relevant public health topics - we believe that PAMED is a
commonsense resource for lawmakers as they work to address
public health issues. Learn more about "Building Healthy
Communities" at www.pamedsoc.org/HealthyCommunities.

Patient Advocacy Issues - Telemedicine, POLST, and
Patient Test Results
Two bills - SB 780 and HB 1648 - would have established
a statutory definition for telemedicine, mandated that
telemedicine services be reimbursed, and prohibited "audio
only" services (video available if requested by the patient or
provider). This legislation had the potential to bring health care
to the most vulnerable populations such as those who reside
in remote areas of the commonwealth, urban communities
that lack reliable or affordable transportation, and for patients
with significant mobility challenges that present a barrier to
in-person consultations with physicians. PAMED strongly
believed that passage of SB 780 would help improve access
to care across the state. In June 2018, SB 780 was favorably
voted on in the Senate and passed 49-0. Coming right off the
heels of the Senate vote, retiring House Professional Licensure
Committee Chairman, Rep. Mark Mustio, toured facilities
over the summer to witness telemedicine technology firsthand.
A public hearing was held on Sept. 12, 2018. Momentum
for this critical legislation looked positive. However, 26
amendments were added to the bill in September and October
and they ultimately slowed the legislation to a grinding halt.
While this bill was not signed into law, it did pass a chamber
for the first time since introduction.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation 47-1 that would
have created a legal framework for Pennsylvania Orders for Life
Sustaining Treatment (POLST) directives and ensured that a
patient's wishes for end-of-life care followed the patient across
health care settings. PAMED strongly supported SB 623 and
is part of a multi-year, collaborative effort of nearly 30 health
care and patient advocacy organizations, with the goal of
easing the difficult clinical decisions patients and their family
members encounter when end-of-life circumstances present
themselves. While this bill did not make it through the House
of Representatives, it did pass a chamber for the first time since
its initial introduction more than five years ago.
HB 1884, introduced by Rep. Marguerite Quinn, requires
an entity performing a diagnostic imaging service, in addition
to sending the results to the ordering physician, to directly
notify the patient or the patient's designee that the results of
the test were sent to the ordering physician when there is a
significant abnormality and that follow-up with the ordering
physician is recommended. Act 112 was signed into law by the
governor on Oct. 24, 2018. PAMED is reaching out to the
Department of Health to seek clarification on several issues,
including the requirements of Act 112, who is subject to Act
112, and how the Department will be implementing the law.
Act 112 takes effect on Dec. 23, 2018. PAMED will
provide updates to its members as we obtain them from the
Department. In the interim, it is recommended for physicians
and facilities to start discussions on developing policies on
implementing Act 112 and to speak to their in-house legal
counsel, malpractice carrier, or other applicable legal counsel
for further guidance. Members can also access PAMED's
informational Quick Consult at www.pamedsoc.org/
QuickConsult.
At PAMED, we believe that while business outcomes are
important, patient outcomes are more paramount. As we look
toward the 2019-2020 legislative session, we will continue to
shine a light on patients and give them the tools they need to
ease health care related burdens while also safeguarding against
administrative red tape for physicians.

PAMPAC UPDATE
PAMPAC is the political arm and the muscle of PAMED.
One of the largest bipartisan political action committees in the
state, it is made up of members of PAMED and its Alliance
who are interested in making a positive contribution to the
medical profession through the political process. PAMPAC
continued on next page >
WINTER 2019

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Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Winter 2019

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