SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK OF
July 9, 2007

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After earning unanimous Senate support this week, several pieces of Gov. Ed Rendell’s “Prescription for Pennsylvania” are poised for enactment.

            A key piece of the governor’s plan involves permitting health care providers to practice to the fullest extent of their training, with the hope that this will expand the pool of providers and lower health care costs. To this end, the governor asked the General Assembly to revisit the state’s laws regulating nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and physician assistants. The state’s medical associations have traditionally opposed such legislation, arguing that such changes could diminish health care quality. However, studies have shown that nurse practitioners and physician assistants have similar (and sometimes better) patient health outcomes.

            The following bills would expand the “scope of practice” for various health care professionals:

            House Bill 1251 (dealing with medical doctors) and House Bill 1252 (dealing with osteopaths) would increase the number of physician assistants that a doctor may supervise from two to four. In a hospital or health care facility, the attending physician would act as the physician assistant’s supervisor.

House Bill 1253 would permit nurse practitioners to take on added duties (such as issuing oral orders, performing disability assessments for welfare programs, and making physical therapy referrals) while working under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician. Nurse practitioners would be required to maintain professional liability coverage in the amount established for health care providers that conduct less than half of their business or practice in Pennsylvania. They would not be eligible to participate in the state’s supplemental medical liability fund.

House Bill 1254 would set out educational and certification requirements for obtaining a designation as a clinical nurse specialist. A clinical nurse specialist is a licensed registered nurse with a graduate preparation and expert training in clinical diagnosis in specialized populations, diseases, settings, and types of care.

The final scope of practice bill, House Bill 1255, would permit nurse-midwives to prescribe medication, provided they have completed relevant coursework and are working under a collaborative agreement that sets out the drugs the nurse-midwife may prescribe or dispense on her own and those that require referral, consultation, or co-management with a supervising physician. Nurse-midwives would also be permitted to prescribe medical devices, immunizations, laboratory tests, and other therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventative measures.

The governor’s health care reform package also targets the problem of hospital-acquired infections. According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, hospital-acquired infections led to nearly 2,500 deaths and more than $3.5 billion in hospital charges in 2005. In each case, these infections were contracted in a hospital and were unrelated to the reason for admission.

Senate Bill 968 would require hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, and nursing homes to assemble committees (including health care practitioners, administrators, and community members) to develop and implement internal infection control plans. This legislation would establish a new program that, beginning in 2009, would provide financial incentives for those facilities that achieve significant reductions in reported infections. The bill would also permit the Department of Health to take action against facilities that do not meet benchmark targets for reducing infections.

As part of the budget agreement with the governor, the Senate acted on all of these health care reform bills this week and voted unanimously in support of them. They are now headed to the governor’s desk.

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The Senate unanimously approved legislation that provides new state rules for assisted living facilities and personal care homes.

Senate Bill 704 requires that a state plan be put in place for regulation and licensing of assisted living residencies and personal care homes. It also requires unannounced on-site visits. The Department of Public Welfare would enforce these new rules.

The bill also received unanimous support in the House. It now moves to the governor’s desk.

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By a vote of 43-6, the Senate passed an amended version of House Bill 896.  The bill would allow limited wineries to obtain a special permit for use at farmers markets as well as wine, food and cultural expositions.

The bill would also allow the Liquor Control Board to issue a special occasion permit to an eligible entity located in a dry municipality if the board is provided with a copy of a resolution adopted by the municipality supporting the issuance of the special permit.

The bill is now on the governor’s desk.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 690, which would create the “Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax Credit Program Act.”

            The program would encourage private investment in the implementation of best management practices on agricultural operations, the planting of riparian forest buffers and the remediation of legacy sediment.

            An eligible applicant would be granted a maximum of $150,000 in tax credits and the entire program would be capped at $10 million for 2007-08 and after that the General Assembly would set a new cap amount.

            The bill is now in the House.

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The Senate this week unanimously approved Vehicle Code legislation that would help Pittsburgh curb the problem of blight and deal with abandoned cars in a more timely fashion.

House Bill 202 would extend special provisions currently in place in Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. At present, Philadelphia initiates investigations of reported abandoned vehicles within five days. When it is determined a vehicle has been abandoned, the city must remove it within 10 days and notify the owner or lessee. Vehicles with long-expired registrations are removed immediately. Pittsburgh officials had campaigned to extend these rules to their city to help them combat blight.

This legislation would also make changes to clarify legislative intent for pilot cars accompanying oversize loads. Under current law, only a single pilot car is required to accompany a vehicle that is greater than 13 feet, but less than 14 feet in body width. This bill would add the requirement that the total length of the vehicle or combination not exceed 120 feet.

The bill has been sent to the governor for his signature.

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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 989, which would transfer land in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County to the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU).

PSECU would pay the state $2.7 million for the 47.28 acres.  The Department of General Services would use the sale proceeds for costs incurred.  All remaining funds would be deposited in the Agricultural Farm Operations Account.

The bill is now in the House.

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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 917, which would transfer land in Cambria Township, Cambria County, to CDM Ebensburg, LLC.

Approximately five acres of land would be transferred to CDM Ebensburg, LLC.  The proceeds of this sale would be used to construct, purchase or lease a temporary or replacement residence for the superintendent for the Ebensburg Center.  Remaining funds would be deposited in the General Fund.

The bill is now in the House.

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The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 153, which bans the use of Senate funds for so called “robo-calls.”

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