PRINTER'S NO. 895
No. 832 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY BOYES, TRELLO, STAIRS, CAPPABIANCA, GANNON, OLASZ,
CARONE, KASUNIC, McCALL, TIGUE, STERN, ULIANA, HALUSKA,
PRESTON, DeLUCA, KENNEY, SEMMEL, NYCE AND MELIO,
MARCH 22, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 22, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 10, 1990 (P.L.352, No.81), entitled "An
2 act prohibiting health care practitioners from balance
3 billing for services to certain patients," further providing
4 for definitions.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 3 of the act of July 10, 1990 (P.L.352,
8 No.81), known as the Health Care Practitioners Medicare Fee
9 Control Act, is amended to read:
10 Section 3. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Balance billing." To charge or collect from a beneficiary
15 of health insurance under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act
16 (Public Law 74-271, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), known as the
17 Medicare Program, an amount in excess of the reasonable charge
18 for the service provided, as determined by the United States
1 Secretary of Health and Human Services.
2 "Emergency medical services." The services utilized in
3 responding to the needs of an individual for immediate medical
4 care in order to prevent loss of life or aggravation of
5 physiological or psychological illness or injury.
6 "Healing arts." The science and skill of diagnosis,
7 prevention or treatment, in any manner whatsoever, of disease or
8 any ailment of the human body.
9 "Health care practitioner." An individual who is authorized
10 to practice some component of the healing arts or provide
11 emergency medical services by a license, permit, certificate or
12 registration issued by a Commonwealth licensing agency or board.
13 The term includes, but is not limited to, a medical doctor, an
14 osteopathic physician, a chiropractor, a dentist, an
15 optometrist, a pharmacist, a physical therapist, a podiatrist, a
16 professional nurse [and a], psychologist, emergency medical
17 technician or an emergency medical technician-paramedic.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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