Lancaster Physician Spring 2021 - 32

L A N C A S T E R M E D I C A L S O C I E T Y.O R G

Legislative Updates

Chief among those priorities is the reintroduction of prior authorization reform
proposals. PAMED has historically been the
driving force on this issue but has welcomed
the addition of a number of patient advocacy
organizations into our coalition. Organizations seeking prior authorization and step
therapy reforms now number near 40. Patient
engagement on this issue is critical.
We also continue to advocate for liability
protections related to physicians treating
COVID-19 patients. PAMED is part of a
broad coalition of statewide organizations
seeking protection from lawsuits stemming
from the pandemic.
A resolution on how best to address
restrictive covenants in physician employment contracts is also being pursued. Rep.
Toren Ecker (R-Adams) plans to reintroduce
legislation aimed at protecting patient access
to physicians otherwise barred from treating
them as a result of contractual agreements.
Although PAMED focuses its legislative
efforts on high-priority issues, we continue
to advocate for the passage of other legislative " fixes " important to our members.
Among those issues are IMG licensing
parity, disclosing frivolous medical board
complaints, and the enactment of a statewide POLST program.
PAMED continues to oppose legislation
that seeks to expand the clinical practice of
non-physician health care providers, such as
the reintroduction of SB 25, legislation that
would give independent practice authority
to CRNPs.
These legislative issues require constant
monitoring and ultimately physician engagement. It is critically important for physicians
to " engage " when called to do so.
Legislators who have received phone
calls from physicians on issues affecting
medical practice and patient care consistently report the positive impact they have

on their decision making. Reaching out
to your representatives should not wait
until there's a legislative crisis. Contact
your local lawmakers now and get to know
them. Developing a relationship when you
don't have a specific " ask " is the key to a
lasting relationship. Physicians interested
in getting more involved in legislative and
political grassroots should call PAMED's
Governmental Affairs staff at 800-228-7823.
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REFORM
(PAMED SUPPORTS)
* House Bill 225 (Mentzer)/Senate Bill
225 (Phillips-Hill) - Prior Authorization
Reform Bills There is a large coalition
with multiple provider entities and patient
advocacy groups seeking to make wholesale
changes to the prior authorization process
in the Commonwealth.
PAMED has played an integral role in
developing this legislation and working
to advance it. Though there are reserved
bill numbers, there has been no legislative
language introduced at this time.
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES (IMG)
LICENSURE PARITY
* House Bill 245 (Kaufer) Rep. Kaufer

has reintroduced his effort to support IMGs
through this legislation, which seeks to
modernize the process by which graduates
of international medical schools become
licensed. Similar legislation passed the House
last session, but stalled in the Senate.
CRNPS
* Senate Bill 25 (Bartolotta) PAMED
has long opposed these efforts, but last
session agreed to listen/negotiate a pilot
program where CRNPs would be granted
independent practice with specific guidelines and restrictions. As this effort did not
come to fruition, stakeholders are working
to determine what legislative action, if any,
would look like given the outcome of the
previous session.
OUT-OF-NETWORK BALANCE BILLING
* HCO 128 (Rapp) This is a co-sponsor
memorandum to advance legislation that
would protect consumers from surprise balance bills from medical providers. PAMED
has played a lead role in this effort to advance
fair legislation dealing with balance billing.
Given the recent passage of the Federal
legislation on this topic, No Surprises Act,
comprehensive protection to consumers was
provided. At this time, we are asking the

For the most up-to-date information on advocacy priorities and legislative issues, please visit

www.pamedsoc.org/advocacy
LANCASTER

PHYSICIAN

http://www.pamedsoc.org/advocacy

Lancaster Physician Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lancaster Physician Spring 2021