PRINTER'S NO. 1333

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No. 992 Session of 2005

        INTRODUCED BY REGOLA, CORMAN, JUBELIRER, KASUNIC, FONTANA,
           PIPPY, ORIE, RAFFERTY, VANCE, GORDNER, LEMMOND, PILEGGI,
           BROWNE, EARLL AND WONDERLING, NOVEMBER 14, 2005

        REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, NOVEMBER 14, 2005

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for the certification of the Patient Safety Authority
     2     as the sole patient safety organization for the purpose of
     3     patient safety activities.

     4     The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
     5     It is the intention of the General Assembly as a matter of
     6  public policy to affirm the commitment of the Commonwealth to
     7  further provide for the improvement of patient safety and reduce
     8  the incidence of events that adversely affect patient safety by
     9  coordinating Federal and State patient safety efforts.
    10     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    11  hereby enacts as follows:
    12  Section 1.  Short title.
    13     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Patient
    14  Safety Organization Certification Act.
    15  Section 2.  Definitions.
    16     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    17  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    18  context clearly indicates otherwise:

     1     "Patient safety activities."  As defined in section 921(5) of
     2  the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 299b-
     3  21(5)).
     4     "Patient Safety Authority."  The Patient Safety Authority
     5  established in section 303 of the act of March 20, 2002
     6  (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and
     7  Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act.
     8     "Patient safety organization."  As defined in section 921(4)
     9  of the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. §
    10  299b-21(4)).
    11  Section 3.  Coordination of Federal and State patient safety
    12                 laws.
    13     The Patient Safety Authority is hereby declared as the sole
    14  public entity eligible to be certified as a patient safety
    15  organization pursuant to section 924 of the Public Health
    16  Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 299b-24) for the purpose
    17  of patient safety activities.
    18  Section 10.  Effective date.
    19     This act shall take effect immediately.








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