1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2conduct a study of the Patient Safety Authority relating to
3its impact on the reduction of medical errors and promotion
4of patient safety.

5WHEREAS, When the General Assembly enacted the act of March
620, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care
7Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, it established
8the Patient Safety Authority to reduce and eliminate medical
9errors by identifying problems and recommending solutions that
10promote patient safety in hospitals, ambulatory surgical
11facilities, birthing centers and certain abortion facilities;
12and

13WHEREAS, When the General Assembly enacted the act of July
1420, 2007 (P.L.331, No.52), it provided for additional
15responsibilities of the Patient Safety Authority with regard to
16health care-associated infections as defined under the Medical
17Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, including
18the creation and conduct of training programs for infection

1control teams, health care workers and physical plant personnel
2about the prevention and control of health care-associated
3infections; and

4WHEREAS, Recent economic trends raise serious questions
5regarding the ability of the Commonwealth to continue funding
6State agencies that do not successfully carry out their mission;
7and

8WHEREAS, The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee has not
9completed a study on the Patient Safety Authority since its
10inception in 2002; therefore be it

11RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
12Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a
13comprehensive study of the Patient Safety Authority to determine
14if the duties put forth by the Medical Care Availability and
15Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act and the act of July 20, 2007
16(P.L.331, No.52) are performed by the Patient Safety Authority;
17and be it further

18RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
19identify all programs, services and functions funded through the
20Patient Safety Trust Fund and determine their costs and service
21or activity levels, examine all Patient Safety Trust Fund
22programs, services and functions and analyze projections of
23future program demand, service levels and associated costs and
24determine the current and projected financial condition of the
25Patient Safety Trust Fund; and be it further

26RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
27determine whether the composition of the Patient Safety
28Authority board of directors is appropriate for the work it is
29mandated to accomplish; and be it further

30RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

1determine if changes to law, regulation or policy are needed to
2achieve the desired results put forth by the Medical Care
3Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act and the act of
4July 20, 2007 (P.L.331, No.52); and be it further

5RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
6recommend whether the existence of the Patient Safety Authority
7should sunset; and be it further

8RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
9prepare a report of its findings and transmit copies of the
10report to the Health Committee, the Insurance Committee, the
11Finance Committee and the Appropriations Committee of the House
12of Representatives no later than six months after adoption of
13this resolution.