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• Hearing Scheduled on Trial Lawyer Bill
  A hearing will be held Sept. 21 on a bill that would permit trial lawyers to quantify damages for pain and suffering.
• Chronic Care, Health Information Exchange Bills Not Likely to Be Considered
  Bills that would extend the Chronic Care Commission and the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX) probably will not be considered before the end of the 2009-2010 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.
• PAMED Supports Bill Requiring Hospital Employees to Get Flu Shots
  Employees of acute care hospitals would have to get influenza vaccines unless they sign a statement that they declined the vaccine.
• House Passes Bill to Standardize ID Badges
  The state House of Representatives passed a bill 197-3 that would require health care providers to wear standardized identification badges that identify their license or certification.
• Senate Passes Bill to Regulate Tanning Facilities
  Many states have taken steps to regulate tanning facilities and establish age restrictions, but Pennsylvania’s facilities are still unregulated.
• Legislation in Harrisburg: A Quick Glance at the Bills
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society gives you a quick overview on health care legislation that is being considered in Harrisburg.
• 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.
• House Rejects Senate Version of Teen Texting, Cell Phone Bill
  The bill that would prohibit teen drivers from texting and talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device.
• Pathology Disclosure Bill Makes it Through House
  This bill would increase payment disclosure requirements for physicians who order laboratory tests and directly pay the lab for the tests.
• Acupuncture Treatment Bill Heads to Senate
  The state House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill that would allow acupuncturists to treat patients indefinitely only if they do not show signs of a medical condition.
• House Committee Passes False Claims Bill
  A bill in the state House of Representatives would create a Pennsylvania version of the federal False Claims Act, possibly threatening access to care for Medicaid patients.
• PAMED Negotiates Amendments to Harmful Insurance Fraud Bills
  Three bills to combat insurance fraud that could have unintended consequences for physicians have been introduced in the state General Assembly.
• Bill Would Provide Equal Coverage for IV, Oral Chemo Drugs
  The state House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that would require insurers to provide the same coverage for oral chemotherapy drugs as they do for intravenous drugs.
• Medicare Claims Paid at Lower Rate To Be Automatically Reprocessed
  Medicare claims paid at the 21 percent reduced rate will be automatically reprocessed as soon as possible.
• House Passes Temporary Medicare Fix
  Physicians will receive a 2.2 percent Medicare update and no cut for at least six months, but a permanent fix is still needed.
• Take Action to Permanently Fix Medicare Payments
  There are a number of ways you can take action to permanently fix the Medicare physician payment schedule that is based on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.
• Bill Calls for Lyme Disease Treatment Protocol, More Education
  A bill in the state Senate would endorse long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease sufferers and call on the state to ramp up education on the disease.
• 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.
• House Committee Tables Self-Referral Bill Opposed by PAMED
  The decision to table House Bill 2522 follows testimony by the Pennsylvania Medical Society that opposed the legislation.
• PAMED Opposes Bill Expanding Audiologist Scope of Practice
  PAMED testifies against bill that would allow audiologists to diagnose and treat hearing problems without first having the patient examined by a physician.
• Sestak Ousts Specter, Corbett and Onorato to Face Off for Governor
  Longtime US Sen. Arlen Specter was unseated in the Democratic primary by US Rep. Joe Sestak, while gubernatorial candidates Democrat Dan Onorato and Republican Tom Corbett scored big wins in their party’s primaries.
• 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.
• What Do Gubernatorial Candidates Think about Health Care Issues?
  Five candidates for Pennsylvania governor discussed their views on hot-button state health care issues.
• HIV Testing Bill Voted Out of Committee
  The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee unanimously approved a bill that would incorporate HIV testing into routine medical care.
• Petition Drive Targets SGR, Medicare Cuts
  Physicians can be a part of a grassroots campaign to avert drastic Medicare payment cuts by participating in a petition drive.
• House Committee Shoots Down Flawed Mcare Premium Discount Bill
  The bill would have reduced Mcare premiums by 20 percent for physicians who implement total quality management programs but actually would have cost physicians more.
• House Committee Passes Bill Allowing Stricter Local Smoking Bans
  A bill that would allow municipalities to create smoking bans stricter than the state ban has been passed by a state House of Representatives committee and is ready for a vote by the full House.
• Some Former Residents Could Receive FICA Tax Refunds
  Residents, hospitals, and medical schools who filed a refund request for FICA taxes paid prior to April 1, 2005, will now be getting those refunds.
• Déjà Vu: Federal Government Temporarily Delays Medicare Cuts
  Medicare payment cuts have once again been temporarily postponed. Contact your senators to urge a permanent solution.
• Legislation Would Protect Physician Apologies
  Two bills would give medical professionals the freedom to apologize for adverse medical outcomes.
• 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.
• Lame Duck Legislative Session Means Aggressive Defense
  With few opportunities to introduce new legislation this year, the Pennsylvania Medical Society is focusing its efforts on preventing legislation that could harm physicians and patients.
• 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.
• Medical Society Opposes Bill to Certify Nurse Anesthetists and Expand Scope of Practice
  A bill that would certify nurse anesthetists and remove physician supervision requirements is under consideration by the House Professional Licensure Committee.
• House Passes Bill Banning Drivers from Texting, Using Handheld Phones
  Several bills have been introduced banning texting and the use of handheld cell phones while driving.
• State House Considering Bill to Define Ophthalmic Surgery
  A bill being considered by the state House would define ophthalmic surgery and limit it only to licensed physicians.
• Medical Society Opposes Bill to License Naturopaths
  A bill has been introduced in the state Senate that would set standards for licensing of naturopaths.
• Bill Would Overhaul Health Insurance Provider Contracting
  House Bill 1759 would overhaul and standardize contracting between physicians and insurers.
• Bills Would Streamline Physician Credentialing Process
  Bills have been introduced in the state General Assembly that would improve the physician credentialing process.
• State House Passes Bill to Expand adultBasic
  House Bill 1 would expand adultBasic, the state-run health insurance program for low-income workers whose employers don’t offer health insurance.
• Resolutions Seek to Improve Pain Management
  Concurrent resolutions introduced March 6, 2009, in the state General Assembly would help remove some barriers to proper pain management.
• Analysis Shows Work Is Needed to Retain, Recruit Physicians
  Pennsylvania must work to reverse a deepening shortage of physicians who provide direct patient care.
• Medical Society Supports Legislation to Limit Retroactive Denial of Claims
  The Pennsylvania Medical Society believes that insurers should only have as long to deny claims as providers have to file them.
• Medical School Loan Forgiveness Bill Gets Another Shot
  Legislation that would forgive medical school loans has been introduced again in the state General Assembly.
• Certificate of Need Resurface in the General Assembly
  A bill that would reinstate certificate of need (CON) in Pennsylvania and limit self-referrals was discussed in a public hearing.

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