Archive: 2009-2010

Archive: PAMED Seeks Statewide System to Prevent Doctor Shopping
The Pennsylvania Medical Society will seek legislation creating an effective controlled substance database.

Archive: Medical School Loan Forgiveness Bill Gets Another Shot
Legislation that would forgive medical school loans has been introduced again in the state General Assembly.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: Bills Would Streamline Physician Credentialing Process
Bills have been introduced in the state General Assembly that would improve the physician credentialing process.

Archive: Bill Would Overhaul Health Insurance Provider Contracting
House Bill 1759 would overhaul and standardize contracting between physicians and insurers.

Archive: Medical Society Opposes Bill to License Naturopaths
A bill has been introduced in the state Senate that would set standards for licensing of naturopaths.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: Legislation Would Protect Physician Apologies
Two bills would give medical professionals the freedom to apologize for adverse medical outcomes.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: 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.

Archive: Senate Won't Act on Trial Lawyer Bill
Senate Republicans have agreed not to vote on a bill, which the Pennsyvlania Medical Society strongly opposed, that would have permitted trial lawyers to quantify damages for pain and suffering.

Archive: House Passes Bill to Resurrect Chronic Care Commission
The state House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill that would preserve the Chronic Care Commission.

Archive: Concussion Bill Passes House
A bill that would improve treatment and monitoring of student athletes with concussions is now headed to the state Senate.

Archive: Senate Votes to Extend Mcare
A bill would delay phase out of the Mcare Fund for six years.

Archive: 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.

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