1Amending the act of December 19, 1986 (P.L.1737, No.209),
2entitled "An act providing for reimbursement by insurance
3companies, professional health service plan corporations,
4fraternal benefit societies and voluntary nonprofit health
5service plans for service performed by a registered nurse;
6and providing further duties of the Insurance Department,"
7adding a definition of "registered nurse first assistant";
8and further providing for scope of coverage.

9The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10hereby enacts as follows:

11Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 19, 1986 
12(P.L.1737, No.209), known as the Insurance Payment to Registered
13Nurse Law, is amended by adding a definition to read:

14Section 2. Definitions.

15The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
16have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17context clearly indicates otherwise:

18* * *

19"Registered nurse first assistant." A person who:

20(1) is licensed as a registered nurse in accordance with

1the laws of this Commonwealth;

2(2) holds an active certification in a Certified Nurse
3Operating Room (CNOR) program that is annually reviewed and
4deemed acceptable by the Competency and Credentialing
5Institute or any other CNOR certification program that is
6accredited by the National Commission for Certifying
7Agencies; and

8(3) has successfully completed a Registered Nurse First
9Assistant (RNFA) program that is one academic year in length
10and which is annually reviewed and deemed acceptable by the
11Competency and Credentialing Institute or any other RNFA
12program that is accredited by the National Commission for
13Certifying Agencies.

14Section 2. Section 4(a) of the act is amended to read:

15Section 4. Scope of coverage.

16(a) General rule.--When a service is performed by a
17registered nurse first assistant, certified registered nurse
18anesthetist, certified registered nurse practitioner, certified
19enterostomal therapy nurse, certified community health nurse,
20certified psychiatric mental health nurse or certified clinical
21nurse specialist, certified by the State Board of Nursing or a
22national nursing organization recognized by the State Board of
23Nursing and lawfully permitted to perform that service under the
24act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional
25Nursing Law, and a policy, contract or certificate provides for
26reimbursement for that service, the insured or any other person
27covered shall be entitled to reimbursement either to the insured
28or to the registered professional nurse providing that service.
29This section does not apply to registered professional nurses
30who are employees of health care facilities as the term "health 

1care facilities" is defined in the act of July 19, 1979 
2(P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, or
3anesthesiology groups.

4* * *

5Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.