Central PA Medicine Winter 2021 - 28

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LEGISLATIVE
UPDATES
and interpret specific noninvasive imaging
tests appropriate for diagnosis of a condition
of vision. Passed the House (202-0) and
the Senate (48-0). It was signed into law
as Act 99 of 2020.

the impact of venue for medical professional
Senate Bill 870 - (Killion) - Physician
liability actions on access to medical care and Assistants (PAs); seeking to help physician
maintenance of health care systems. PAMED assistants work and practice with increased
strongly supported this effort to delay the efficiency. The bill allows for modernization
Supreme Court's proposed rule change on for physician assistants to practice while
Senate Bill 983 - (DiSanto) - Legisla- venue. The Senate passed this resolution maintaining their role under supervising
tion seeks to establish a standard newborn (31-18) and the LBFC held hearings. The physicians. These bills were voted favorscreening fee and merges the mandatory and Senate Judiciary committee conducted ably out the Senate Consumer Protection
supplemental disorder lists in Pennsylvania's hearings related to the LBFC's findings and & Professional Licensure committee and
then stalled.
Newborn Child Screening and Follow-up PAMED will be provided testimony.
Program. This legislation passed the Senate
Senate Bill 675 - (Brooks) - MAT,
Senate Bill 871 - (Killion) - companion
(50-0) and the House (202-0). It was signed buprenorphine - This bill continues to be bill amending the DO act.
into law as Act 133 of 2020.
opposed by various entities including the
Senate Bill 993 - (Brooks) - These bills
Governor's
office. Although the bill passed seek to assist small businesses in providing
House Bill 730 - (Cruz) - Voted out of
House Human Services and received first the Senate (41-9), the House Human health care benefits to their employees by the
consideration from the full House. The Services committee lacked the votes to formation of group association health plans.
Senate version moved as nod to Senator advance this bill.
It was likely that the Senate version would
DiSanto in an election year with a tough race.
Senate Bill 761 - (Gordner) - Informed move as it contains additional language
House Bill 1457 - (Schroeder) - This Consent remedy to Supreme Court decision. providing for elasticity pending the outcome
legislation provides for insurance coverage of No movement on this bill and priority level of federal litigation around the issue, but it
custom breast prosthetics post breast cancer has been reduced as result of practitioners stalled in committee.
reconstruction. PAMED supports coverage adapting to the change in law. Recently,
House Bill 2200 - (Gaydos) - House
for this vulnerable population of patients. PAMED gov't relations received a request companion bill to SB993.
Passed the House (199-0) and the Senate to advocate the inclusion of both radiology
Senate Bill 181 - (Brooks) - Bill provid(50-0). This bill was signed into law by the practitioner assistants (RPA) and Radiologist ing for mandatory CME in Lyme disease
Assistants
(RA)
(Dr.
Wildenhain-IntervenGovernor as Act 44 of 2020.
tional Radiologist/Washington, PA); Over and related tick-borne diseases for health
House Bill 770 - (DeLuca) - Granting the course of the current session PAMED care professionals; PAMED opposes any
pharmacists the ability to administer certain heard of various attempts to include this mandatory CME and communicated this in
diagnostic tests such as " rapid strep tests. " bill in possible House deals/trade-offs, but recent stakeholder meeting with the Senator's
After originally passing the House (163- it received no movement.
staff. The bill received no committee action.
25), the Senate sent it back over to the
Senate Bill 340 - (Killion) - Bill seeking
House amended (47-1) where it received
to
allow genetic counselors to order genetic House Bills/Resolutions:
concurrence (154-48). PAMED actively
testing;
we have participated in numerous
worked to stop this bill as it jeopardizes
House Bill 1862 - (Pickett) - OON/
stakeholder
discussions to come to agreed
patient safety and will result in increased
Surprise billing - This bill was originally
health care costs. The bill was signed into upon language before the bill is ready for fast tracked, but with 30+ entities voicing
" prime time. " Introduced and referred to the
law as Act 140 of 2020.
opposition it was put on hold. We continue
Senate Consumer Protection & Professional
to oppose it in the current form, while we
Licensure committee, where it remained.
support amendments proposed by Rep.
Senate Bills/Resoltuions:
Senate Bill 325 - (Gordner) - Recognizes Kaufer and Rep. Rothman dealing with
Senate Bill 857 - (Vogel) - Telemedicine Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists the commercially reasonable standard and
- Passed the Senate (47-1) and passed the (CRNAs) under Pennsylvania statute. Passed independent dispute resolution. Various
House (111-77) with the abortion language the Senate (49-0) and has been referred to meetings and discussions with House
(the FDA's REMS list medication). The the House Professional Licensure Committee, leadership continue to occur and have this
Senate concurred on the House amendments where no further action was taken.
legislation in " stalemate " of sorts where it will
and passed the bill (29-21). However, the
not
go as is, but also will not go against the
Senate Bill 90 - (Killion) - Extreme Risk
Governor vetoed this legislation (Veto 4 Protection Orders (ERPOs); temporarily drafter's (Chairman Pickett) original intent/
of 2020).
restricts an individual's access to firearms language. No movement on this bill was a
Senate Resolution 20 - (Baker) - This when they clearly present a danger to positive outcome for PAMED as it stalled
before the full House.
resolution directed the Legislative Budget and themselves and others.
Finance Committee to conduct a study of
28 Winter 2021 Central PA Medicine

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Central PA Medicine Winter 2021

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