PRINTER'S NO.  2122

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1494

Session of

2012

  

  

INTRODUCED BY COSTA, BROWNE, BLAKE, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, SCHWANK, SOLOBAY, YUDICHAK, LEACH, ORIE AND FARNESE, APRIL 18, 2012

  

  

REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 18, 2012  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), entitled

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"An act reforming the law on medical professional liability;

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providing for patient safety and reporting; establishing the

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Patient Safety Authority and the Patient Safety Trust Fund;

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abrogating regulations; providing for medical professional

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liability informed consent, damages, expert qualifications,

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limitations of actions and medical records; establishing the

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Interbranch Commission on Venue; providing for medical

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professional liability insurance; establishing the Medical

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Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund; providing for

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medical professional liability claims; establishing the Joint

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Underwriting Association; regulating medical professional

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liability insurance; providing for medical licensure

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regulation; providing for administration; imposing penalties;

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and making repeals," further providing for continuing medical

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education.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 910 of the act of March 20, 2002

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(P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and

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Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, is amended by adding a

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subsection to read:

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Section 910.  Continuing medical education.

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* * *

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(b.1)  Additional medical education.--

 


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(1)  As part of the 100 hours of mandatory continuing

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education required of individuals licensed to practice

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medicine and surgery, 12 hours shall be in the subjects of

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palliative care and the treatment of terminally ill and dying

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patients, including:

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(i)  Management of pain and other symptoms such as

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nausea, insomnia, shortness of breath, delirium and loss

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of appetite.

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(ii)  Communication with seriously ill patients.

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(iii)  Assessment of prognosis in seriously or

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chronically ill patients.

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(iv)  Advance planning and medical decision making.

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(2)  For the purpose of this subsection, the 12 hours of

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continuing education shall be a one-time requirement.

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Individuals licensed to practice medicine and surgery without

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restriction shall complete the 12 hours of continuing

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education during a biennial renewal cycle before December 31,

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2016. The licensure board may verify completion of this

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requirement on the renewal form.

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(3)  As determined by the licensure board, individuals

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licensed to practice medicine and surgery without restriction

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may be exempt from the requirement in this subsection if the

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licensee does not treat patients or provide patient

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consultations.

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(4)  For a physician who routinely cares for children for

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more than 15% of the physician's clinical volume, at least

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four of the twelve credits shall address the specific

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concerns of pediatric palliative care.

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* * *

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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