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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 4234

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2727 Session of 2008


        INTRODUCED BY KILLION, BENNINGHOFF, ADOLPH, BRENNAN, CREIGHTON,
           DeLUCA, J. EVANS, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HARHART, HENNESSEY,
           MAHONEY, MANN, MARSICO, MENSCH, MOUL, MUNDY, MYERS, RAPP,
           ROCK, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, SWANGER, THOMAS,
           WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 5, 2008

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, AUGUST 5, 2008

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for identification badge for licensed health care
     2     practitioner and for penalties.

     3     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     4  hereby enacts as follows:
     5  Section 1.  Short title.
     6     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care
     7  Practitioner Identification Badge Act.
     8  Section 2.  Purpose.
     9     It is the purpose of this act to provide a uniform standard
    10  in health care settings by which patients can be apprised of the
    11  identity and licensure credentials of individuals who provide
    12  health care services to them.
    13  Section 3.  Definitions.
    14     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    15  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    16  context clearly indicates otherwise:


     1     "Board."  The State Board of Medicine, the State Board of
     2  Osteopathic Medicine, the State Board of Dentistry, the State
     3  Board of Podiatry, the State Board of Nursing, the State Board
     4  of Optometry, the State Board of Chiropractic, the State Board
     5  of Physical Therapy, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State
     6  Board of Psychology, the State Board of Examiners in Speech-
     7  Language and Hearing, the State Board of Occupational Therapy
     8  Education and Licensure and the State Board of Social Workers,
     9  Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
    10     "Bureau."  The Bureau of Professional and Occupational
    11  Affairs within the Department of State.
    12     "Health care practitioner."  An individual who is authorized
    13  to practice a component of the healing arts by a license,
    14  permit, certificate or registration issued by a licensing board
    15  within the Department of State.
    16  Section 4.  Identification badge required.
    17     (a)  Requirement.--When treating a patient, working in a
    18  health care facility or when engaged in face-to-face contact
    19  with the public in a professional capacity, a health care
    20  practitioner shall wear an identification badge displaying the
    21  practitioner's name and photograph and the license,
    22  certification or registration held by the practitioner.
    23     (b)  Type of badge.--The identification badge shall be
    24  designed in accordance with the standards set forth under
    25  section 5.
    26  Section 5.  Standards.
    27     Badges must comply with the following standards:
    28         (1)  The overall size of the badge shall be at least
    29     three and one-fourth inches by two inches.
    30         (2)  A photograph of the practitioner shall be on the
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     1     badge and shall be at least one and one-fourth inches by one
     2     and one-fourth inches in size.
     3         (3)  The name and degree of the practitioner shall be in
     4     12-point bold-face type.
     5         (4)  The professional license, certification or
     6     registration designation of the practitioner shall be in 18-
     7     point type and shall occupy a one-half inch wide strip along
     8     the bottom edge of the badge.
     9  Section 6.  Issuance.
    10     The board shall issue two identification badges required
    11  under this act to a practitioner upon the issuance of an
    12  original or renewed professional license, certificate or
    13  registration to a practitioner.
    14  Section 7.  Exceptions.
    15     (a)  General exceptions.--A health care practitioner shall
    16  not be required to wear an identification badge while engaged in
    17  procedures requiring full sterile dress or procedures requiring
    18  other protective clothing or covering. Identification of the
    19  practitioner may be limited to first name only and professional
    20  designation when full name identification may place the personal
    21  safety of the practitioner in jeopardy or interfere with the
    22  therapeutic relationship between the practitioner and a patient.
    23     (b)  Other exceptions.--The bureau may designate additional
    24  exceptions consistent with paragraph (a).
    25  Section 8.  Alternative identification badges.
    26     A hospital, nursing home, pharmacy, physician practice or
    27  other health care facility may issue an identification badge to
    28  a practitioner practicing in that facility, which may be worn in
    29  lieu of the identification badge required under this act if:
    30         (1)  the badge comports with the standards set forth
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     1     under section 5; and
     2         (2)  approval is granted by the bureau.
     3  Section 9.  Violation.
     4     A violation of this act is a ground for disciplinary action
     5  against the health care practitioner by the practitioner's
     6  licensing board or other regulatory authority.
     7  Section 10.  Effective date.
     8     This act shall take effect in 60 days.















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