HARRISBURG – The Senate approved several bills recently to promote the access and affordability of healthcare services and address other critical issues in the healthcare community, according to state Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), who supported the measures.
Senate Bill 857, which passed the Senate on October 30th, would improve the availability of healthcare services by promoting telemedicine services in Pennsylvania. Telemedicine would allow care providers to deliver services digitally through the use of apps, Skype, FaceTime and other advanced technologies.
The legislation would help expand care and reduce costs, especially for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and members of rural or underserved communities.
Senate Bill 841, legislation which would reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), also earned Senate approval. The agency is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about the cost and quality of health care in the state, as well as studying issues that affect access to care.
Additionally, the Senate approved legislation to safeguard the health of Pennsylvania’s student athletes. Senate Bill 836, known as Peyton’s Law, would inform student athletes and their parents about the importance of electrocardiogram (EKG) testing to detect underlying heart conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
The legislation is named in honor of Peyton Walker of Cumberland County, who died from SCA when she was just 19 years old.
Legislation to protect health care practitioners and technicians was also approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 351 would increase the penalty for an assault on a health care practitioner or technician while in the performance of duty where there is bodily injury. The penalty would increase from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a felony of the second degree.
Existing state law already provides stiffer penalties for assaults against EMS personnel, including doctors, residents, nurses, paramedics and other members of the health care community. The bill would extend the same protections to a broader range of health care practitioners and technicians.
All four bills have been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT:
Rita Zielonis, Chief of Staff
(717) 787-3280