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• Governor Signs Marcellus Shale Bill without Health Funding
  Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill into law, which does not contain the requested funding to the Department of Health to conduct important activities related to Marcellus shale education.
• Bill Would Potentially Interfere with Physician-Patient Relationship
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society is opposing the Women’s Right to Know Act, proposed legislation that would interfere with the open dialogue between patients and physicians.
• Higher Education and Welfare Funding Slashed in Proposed 2012-2013 State Budget
  Higher education and welfare programs were once again on the state chopping block as Gov. Tom Corbett released his proposed 2012-2013 state budget of $27.14 billion on Feb. 7, 2012.
• Comply with New ID Badge Regulations with Easy-to-Use Template
  We’ve heard from many physicians who are frustrated with the ID badge regulations and concerned that it will take a lot of staff time to comply. PAMED has developed an easy-to-use template that meets all of the requirements.
• Overview of Pennsylvania’s New Concussion Legislation
  To provide an overview of how the concussions law may affect health care providers, schools, students, and parents, here is a list of the law’s major provisions.
• Programs Critical to Your Patients Could Be on the State Chopping Block
  Protecting 2012-2013 state budget funding for health-related programs critical to patient access remains a top legislative priority this session for the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
• Naturopath Licensure Bill Could Confuse Patients and Lead to Serious Harm
  Language in a bill that would establish licensure for naturopaths is very concerning to Pennsylvania physicians and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, especially the potential latitude it would give naturopaths to expand their scope of practice and also refer to themselves as “physicians.”
• Contact Your State Senator to Protect Quality and Safety of Patient Care
  Through a bill now awaiting vote in the state Senate, all Pennsylvania physicians have a rare opportunity to help determine the definition of surgery to protect the future quality and safety of care. Contact your state senators now to urge a yes vote on HB 838.
• Health Care ID Badge Law Aims to Minimize Patient Confusion
  Physicians and their employees in private medical practices are now required to wear photo identification badges according to new interim regulations published in the PA Bulletin on Dec. 10, 2011.
• Quick Glance: Legislation in Harrisburg
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society gives you a quick overview on health care legislation that is being considered in Harrisburg.
• Legislation Needed to Continue Fair Insurance Contracts for Physicians
  Now that the terms of a federal settlement that helped create a fair insurance contracting process have expired, insurers are already reverting back to old, unfair contract language.
• Credentialing Bill Seeks to Prevent Care Delays and Reduce Physician Hassles
  This legislation would help streamline the physician credentialing process and minimize administrative and financial burdens on physicians.
• Controlled Substances Database Bill Aims to Reduce Doctor Shopping
  Pennsylvania’s primary statewide tool for collecting data about prescription drugs is limited and outdated. Legislation to create an improved monitoring system is being considered by the state legislature.
• Bill to Prevent Cardiac Arrest in Student Athletes Goes to Senate
  Legislation that would establish standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest and death in student athletes has unanimously passed the state House on Oct. 3, 2011.
• Concussion Bill to Protect Student Athletes Signed by Governor
  Legislation that provides better monitoring of concussions in Pennsylvania’s interscholastic athletes was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett on Nov. 9, 2011.
• Bill Banning Drivers from Texting Signed into Law
  Legislation that bans texting while driving was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett on Nov. 9, 2011.
• Bill to Regulate State’s Tanning Salons Passes Senate
  A bill to regulate Pennsylvania's tanning facilities and set age limits for who can use them passed the state Senate by a vote of 48-1 on Oct. 31, 2011. The bill now goes to the House Health Committee for consideration.
• Hospital Regulations Need Overhaul; Bill Would Undermine State Oversight
  Though PAMED agrees that the state’s 30-year-old hospital regulations are in need of significant updates, it opposes legislative language in a bill that would give oversight authority to a national accrediting organization in lieu of the state Department of Health.
• Bills to Benefit Public Health and Physician Issues Likely on Fall Legislative Agenda
  Still high on PAMED's list of state legislative priorities this fall are passage of apology legislation and legislation to regulate Pennsylvania’s tanning facilities.
• Bill Calls for Lyme Disease Treatment Protocol, More Education
  A bill in the state House would endorse long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease sufferers and calls on the state to ramp up education on the disease.
• New HIV Testing Law Contains Post-Test Counseling Requirements for Physicians
  There are some post-test counseling requirements contained in the new HIV law (Act 59) that physicians should be familiar with before initiating the streamlined process.
• Bill to Incorporate HIV Testing into Routine Medical Care Becomes Law
  Legislation that incorporates HIV testing into routine medical care was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett on July 7, 2011.
• Budget Cuts Affect Medicaid and other Programs; Medical School Funding Cut but Not Eliminated
  Approximately 15 minutes before the June 30, 2011 midnight deadline, Gov. Tom Corbett signed the $27.15 billion 2011-2012 state budget, which contains no new taxes but deep spending cuts to higher education, welfare programs, and economic development.
• Governor Signs Fair Share Act Modifying Pennsylvania’s Joint and Several Liability Law
  A much needed liability reform bill, which the Pennsylvania Medical Society strongly supports, was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett on June 28, 2011. The Fair Share Act modifies Pennsylvania’s joint and several liability law.
• House Bill to Define Ophthalmic Surgery and Ensure Patient Safety Heads to the Senate
  Legislation that would help protect patient safety by defining ophthalmic surgery passed the House on June 22, 2011, and now heads to the Senate for its consideration.
• Pennsylvania Senate and House Pass Abortion Clinic Bills
  The state Senate recently passed legislation that would apply ambulatory surgical facility requirements to abortion facilities performing abortions after nine weeks of pregnancy.
• Bill Proposes to Channel State Funds to Non-Profit Health Care Clinics
  Legislation that would establish a framework to provide state money to non-profit community-based clinics in underserved areas passed the state Senate and is now in the House Health Committee for consideration.
• PAMED Sends Letter to Auditor General Regarding Access to Care
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society sent a letter to Auditor General Wagner sharing its concerns about access to care and reiterating its commitment to the health and well being of all Pennsylvania citizens.
• PAMED's Advocacy Day a Huge Success
  PAMED's annual Advocacy Day was very well attended, with medical students, fellows, and residents from across Pennsylvania, as well as the unprecedented participation of deans and other representatives from each of the state’s nine medical schools.
• PAMED Participates in News Conference on Tort Reform
  It is imperative to reform Pennsylvania’s legal system in order to protect access to high quality medical care for all Pennsylvanians.
• Budget Hearings Take Center Stage in Harrisburg
  Recent House and Senate budget hearings included a number of sessions of importance to Pennsylvania physicians and patients.
• Physician Apology Bill Passes House of Representatives
  A much needed liability reform bill addressing physician apologies has cleared another important hurdle on its way to becoming law by passing the state House of Representatives.
• Tort Reform Is Early Priority for Gov. Corbett
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society's long-running advocacy for tort reform may pay dividends this coming year.
• Pathology Disclosure Law Affects Billing
  Physicians who order and pay for lab tests, and then bill their patients, will have new reporting requirements as of Jan. 22, 2011.
• Bill Would Require Notifying Patients of Imaging Test Results
  A proposed bill would require physicians to notify patients that imaging results have been received.
• Nominees for Corbett’s Cabinet Almost Complete
  Tom Corbett is wrapping up his selection of leadership for the state departments and agencies with the greatest impact on physicians and patients.
• Corbett to Nominate New York Physician as Secretary of Health
  Governor-elect Tom Corbett has announced that he intends to nominate Eli Avila, JD, MD, of Hampton Bays, N.Y., as Secretary of Health.
• Legislative Wish List Includes Tort Reforms, Protecting Public Health
  Republicans in charge in Harrisburg means tort reform is more likely but so are budget cuts to health care.
• Taking Stock: Good Session for Medicine at the Capitol
  With the Pennsylvania House and Senate both closing up shop for the year, it’s a good point to take stock of how health care fared in general during the last legislative session.
• Legislative Forecast for Medicine in 2011
  The Republican sweep of Pennsylvania’s governorship and House of Representatives is significant in next year’s legislative session.
• Rendell Signs Health Care Bills Approved by Lame Duck Legislature
  Two health care bills were unanimously approved by the state as the result of the last-minute lame duck legislative session.
• State No Longer Allowed to Restrain Inmates in Labor
  Under a law signed by Gov. Ed Rendell on July 2, 2010, pregnant inmates who are in labor can no longer be restrained.
• How the Budget Spending Plan Affects Health Care
  Here’s a look at how the budget spending plan will affect programs and initiatives that are important to physicians and patients.
• Insurance Department Investigates Insurer Rate Hikes
  Pennsylvania’s nine largest health insurers are being investigated for increasing rates before federal health system reform takes full effect.
• Budget Issues Will Impact Health Care Spending
  The state’s budget shortfall has the potential to have a huge impact on health care spending during the 2010-11 fiscal year.
• Former PAMED President Elected Chair of State Board of Medicine
  Past Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) President Carol E. Rose, MD, has been elected chair of the state Board of Medicine.
• State Society Supports Clinical Research of Medical Marijuana
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Trustees has expressed its support of clinical trials on the efficacy of marijuana and similar drugs in treating serious medical conditions.
• Analysis Shows Work Is Needed to Retain, Recruit Physicians
  Pennsylvania must work to reverse a deepening shortage of physicians who provide direct patient care.

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