Advocacy Priorities

On the Hill

onthehill Pennsylvania’s General Assembly consists of 50 members of the State Senate and 203 members of the House of Representatives who meet regularly in Harrisburg to debate and consider proposed changes to the Commonwealth’s laws and regulations. The introduction of bills is robust with totals, typically reaching several thousand during each two-year legislative session.

The PAMED advocacy team, along with our physician leaders, carefully reviews all legislation to determine whether its passage could impact the practice of medicine. The items listed below are broad topics under which legislation has been introduced and on which PAMED is actively engaged. PAMED’s involvement in legislative activities is not limited to these items alone.

For questions on legislation, please contact PAMED’s Government Relations staff.

You can also view our Policy Compendium by clicking here.

PAMED 2023 Legislative Preview

PAMED members are invited to listen in as Martin Raniowski, CEO & Executive Vice President, and David Thompson, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, talk about PAMED's legislative priorities and Pennsylvania’s political landscape in 2023.

"We will have about 30 plus new members of the legislature for next year," said David Thompson, Senior Director of Government Affairs at PAMED. "We have our job cut out for us with respect to educating those individuals about who we are and what we do."

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Current Issues

Venue Rule

Description:
PAMED and its coalition of stakeholders oppose changes to the location of where a medical liability case can be filed. Access to care issues and higher insurance premiums and health care costs are just two of the many possible impacts.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) was directed to study the impact of a proposed Pa. Supreme Court venue rule change – which PAMED and its coalition of stakeholders vehemently opposes – that would allow medical liability lawsuits to take place outside of the county where the alleged malpractice occurred.
PAMED Position:
PAMED knows the Venue Rule change will negatively impact physicians across the state. That is why we’ve joined a coalition of stakeholders to work towards having this rule reversed and explore possible legislative remedies. The coalition is concerned about: access to care issues, higher insurance premiums, physician recruitment and retention obstacles.
Current Legislation:
House Bill 2660 – PAMED supports this Constitutional amendment that will strip the Supreme Court’s ability to establish venue and place the matter in the hands of the legislature.
Pharmacists Performing Immunizations

Description:
The temporary waiver issuing Pharmacists to perform vaccinations is set to expire on June 30th. The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association has been advocating for a permanent position for pharmacists to perform all vaccines for children.
PAMED Position:
PAMED has been working in coordination with the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the PA Academy of Family Physicians, POMA, and the PA Chapter of the American College of Physicians, an agreement has been reached to allow pharmacists to administer seasonal flu and COVID vaccines to their customers aged 5 and above.
Current Legislation:
House Bill 2679 was signed by the Governor in July 2022.
Prior Authorization

Description:
Long wait times for medication and treatment approvals by insurers often delay patient care. PAMED supports reform that increases transparency and curbs these delays.
PAMED Position:
PAMED supports reform that increases transparency with medical insurers for medication and treatment approvals, which curb the delay of patient care. PAMED also supports national efforts to reform prior authorization, including being on an American Medical Association convened workgroup of 17 state and specialty medical societies, national provider associations, and patient representatives to develop best practices for prior authorization and other utilization management requirements by identifying the most common provider and patient concerns.
Current Legislation:
The General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 225.
Scope of Practice

Description:
Some things work better together – the health care team is no different. PAMED supports physician-led team based care and protecting the physician/patient relationship.
PAMED Position:
We support a physician-led, team-based approach to health care and oppose the independent practice of CRNPS. During the 2019-2020 legislative session, the PAMED Board agreed to support a 6-year pilot program that would collect data to measure the impact of independent certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) in Pennsylvania’s designated primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). However, the nurses have since reneged on this deal, and are again seeking full independent practice through Senate Bill 25, which PAMED strongly opposes.
Current Legislation:
SB 25 - Seeks to grant independent practice to CRNPs; PAMED opposes
Physician Wellness

Description:
Physician burnout is a serious problem. PAMED supports improving the practice environment for physicians to help alleviate unnecessary stress.
The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was recently signed into law. The legislation aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. To read more about it, please go to https://drlornabreen.org/about-the-legislation/.
PAMED Position:
Supports legislative proposals to help ease administrative burdens
Current Legislation:
PAMED identifies physician burnout as a real and immediate problem. PAMED continues to advocate for legislative solutions to improve physician wellness.
Several bills to help address administrative hassles (e.g. HB1700 & HB1701: unfounded complaints against physicians)

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PAMED 2023 Legislative Preview

Current Issues

Venue Rule

Pharmacists Performing Immunizations

Prior Authorization

Scope of Practice

Physician Wellness