PRINTER'S NO. 996
No. 828 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GORDNER, WONDERLING, C. WILLIAMS, BROWNE, CORMAN,
ERICKSON, FONTANA, KASUNIC, O'PAKE, ORIE, TOMLINSON, WAUGH,
WOZNIAK AND VANCE, MAY 8, 2007
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MAY 8, 2007
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Gaining Access to Physicians Program; and
2 imposing powers and duties on the Department of Public
3 Welfare.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Gaining
8 Access to Physicians (GAP) Program Act.
9 Section 2. Gaining Access to Physicians (GAP) Program.
10 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Gaining
11 Access to Physicians (GAP) Program, to be administered by the
12 Department of Public Welfare in accordance with the requirements
13 for qualified State telemedicine reimbursement. The purpose of
14 this program is to promote access to quality health care and
15 reduce future Medicaid costs by providing reimbursement for
16 services delivered via telemedicine for Medicaid recipients if
17 the services provided are a covered benefit when provided in
18 person.
1 (b) Operation.--In order to implement the program, the
2 Department of Public Welfare shall file a State plan amendment
3 with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the United
4 States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Title
5 XIX of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1396
6 et seq.) by June 30, 2007. The program shall be structured and
7 administered by the Department of Public Welfare in accordance
8 with Federal law and applicable Federal guidelines for qualified
9 State telemedicine services.
10 Section 3. Effective date.
11 This act shall take effect immediately.
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