PRINTER'S NO. 3220

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

211

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY BURNS, DRISCOLL, GUENST, SANCHEZ, LONGIETTI,

MADDEN, HILL-EVANS, HENNESSEY, HOWARD, BRADFORD AND STRUZZI,

JUNE 8, 2022

industry and the community health workers industry within

this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has identified 48

of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania as rural counties; and

WHEREAS, Rural counties have seen a significant decrease in

population over the last 10 years as compared to urban counties;

and

WHEREAS, Rural counties and municipalities have historically

experienced a lack of access to health services compared to

urban areas, such as in the number of hospice care and emergency

illnesses, as well as shorter life expectancies; and

WHEREAS, The number of doctors practicing in rural counties

has been continuously outpaced by urban areas, leaving more and

more residents to travel further distances for care, and this

situation has caused the Department of Health to label 62

counties as having "health professional shortage areas" in

primary care; and

WHEREAS, There have been a multitude of innovative ways to

increase health care access to rural areas as seen through home-

based primary care, telehealth and community health workers; and

access to a variety of services; and

WHEREAS, Home-based primary care programs operated by

entities, such as the United States Medical Management and the

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, consistently prove

home-based primary care to be a cost-saving program that

increases quality of service to patients; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth currently provides home-based and

community-based services to individuals covered by medical

assistance; and

WHEREAS, A proven method of increasing care to individuals

Commonwealth, causing insurance companies to pick and choose

which services can be covered and decreasing the overall number

of telehealth services offered; and

WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced in the past to

establish guidelines for telehealth services but has not been

enacted into law; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has an obligation to establish

meaningful regulations to assist the growth of telehealth

services; and

WHEREAS, Community health workers are community members in

health systems in the certification and educational requirements

for community health workers in Pennsylvania, as they are

trained exclusively to the standards set by each individual

health care system; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has an obligation to support the

increase of health care access to rural counties and

municipalities through an informed decision-making process;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Center

for Rural Pennsylvania to conduct a study on the current level

RESOLVED, That the Center for Rural Pennsylvania coordinate

with an agency deemed appropriate to conduct the study,

including the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania,

the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and

the Department of Community and Economic Development; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Center for Rural Pennsylvania prepare a

report of its findings that, at a minimum:

care access in rural counties and municipalities and

this Commonwealth and determines the challenges faced by each

industry;

provider to increase health care access in rural counties;

and

RESOLVED, That the Center for Rural Pennsylvania submit its

report to the House of Representatives no later than one year

after the adoption of this resolution.