PRINTER'S NO. 1183
No. 148 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, KUKOVICH, LOGAN, KITCHEN, ARMSTRONG,
ERICKSON, FERLO, SCHWARTZ, CORMAN, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE,
WONDERLING, BRIGHTBILL, CONTI, O'PAKE, STOUT, LAVALLE,
WOZNIAK, TOMLINSON, LEMMOND, SCARNATI, WAGNER, RAFFERTY,
KASUNIC, GREENLEAF AND RHOADES, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating October 8, 2003, as "Health Cares About Domestic
2 Violence Day" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention Fund's National
4 Health Initiative on Domestic Violence has designated October 8,
5 2003, as "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day" across the
6 nation; and
7 WHEREAS, The importance of screening patients for symptoms of
8 domestic violence was emphasized by this legislature most
9 recently by the passage of Act 115 of 1998, which establishes
10 the Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and
11 WHEREAS, The Department of Public Welfare is about to
12 implement a plan to require managed care plans to screen medical
13 assistance recipients and provide education about domestic
14 violence; and
15 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Medical Society has convened a work
16 group comprised of medical directors of commercial health
1 insurance managed care plans to develop patient and provider
2 education to identify and provide care, support and referral
3 mechanisms for domestic violence victims; and
4 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the first state in the United States
5 to institute domestic violence screening in selected settings;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, For three years in a row the Family Violence
8 Prevention Fund (FVPF) has designated Pennsylvania as the only
9 state in the nation worthy of an "A" grade as a result of the
10 Commonwealth's Domestic Violence Health Care Laws, including the
11 Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and
12 WHEREAS, Health care provider training and onsite services to
13 victims have increased steadily since passage of Act 115 of
14 1998; and
15 WHEREAS, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians
16 across the nation routinely screen patients for partner abuse
17 when not currently injured; and
18 WHEREAS, Such training and services are not yet universal;
19 and
20 WHEREAS, All health care providers are extremely vital for
21 detection and prevention of injuries related to domestic
22 violence; and
23 WHEREAS, All health care providers should be made aware of
24 the multitude of symptoms and signs associated with domestic
25 violence; and
26 WHEREAS, All health care providers should be made aware of
27 the long-term health implications of domestic violence and
28 lifetime exposure to violence; and
29 WHEREAS, Medical studies link long-term effects of domestic
30 violence to a myriad of health problems, including smoking,
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1 diabetes, obesity, eating disorders and substance abuse; and
2 WHEREAS, Battery is a leading cause of injury to women; and
3 WHEREAS, One hundred fifty-seven deaths in this Commonwealth
4 in 2002 were attributed to domestic violence; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 8, 2003, as
6 "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day," recognize
7 Pennsylvania's leadership and urge continued expansion of
8 training of health care providers and provision of health care
9 services to domestic violence victims.
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