b'Lobbyist Update (continued)go back to page 7Major Advocacy IssuesHOPE for PA Mental Health Priorities: Notable LegislationHOPE for PA - One Pager.pdfSCOPE OF PRACTICE(pahouse.com) The B & B Team is tracking more than For his part, Governor Shapiro pledged100 bills at this juncture.Notable PACEP is working in concert with$500 million to increase mental healthlegislation includes, but is not limited to:the Pennsylvania Osteopathicsupport for students in Pennsylvania HB 78 PN 67RepresentativeMedicine Association (POMA) andschools, including $100 million toArvind Venkat (D, Allegheny)This the Pennsylvania Academy of Familyconnect students and staff to mentallegislation establishes the Medical Physicians (PAFP) to block thehealth services. Debt Relief Program.HB 78 is expansion of allied professionals scopeprojected to receive House action by of practice.We anticipate a difficultMEDICAL LIABILITY REFORMJune 30.PACEP supports HB 78. engagement during this legislativeBill Information - House Bill 78; session for a variety of reasons,In coalition with other medical specialtyRegular Session 2023-2024 - PA including a Democratic majority inorganizations, PACEP is advancing aGeneral Assembly (state.pa.us) the House of Representatives.Wemulti-pronged legislative packageSB 25 PN 387Senator Camera are, however, gathering allies in theto mitigate the ill effects of the state legislative leadership and diligentlySupreme Courts August 2022 decisionBartolotta (R, Beaver, Greene, working to slow the progress of severalto vitiate the venue rules.Prior toWashington)This legislation legislative proposals. January 1, 2023, medical liability venueprovides for independent practice was in the county of the alleged injury. for Certified Registered Nurse MENTAL HEALTH With the new court rules, medicalPractitioners.SB 25 is expected to liability venue can be in any county inreceive Senate Consumer Protection To better serve patients and towhich the plaintiff can establish theand Professional Licensure Committee alleviate emergency departmentdefendant has a nexus. consideration in May or June.PACEP boarding, PACEP is advocating foropposes SB 25. vital mental health funding.TheAmong the reforms PACEP seeks are: Bill Information - Senate Bill 25; current state budget allocates $1001) Subject Matter Jurisdiction ReformRegular Session 2023-2024 - PA million for mental health services. General Assembly (state.pa.us)this legislation would establish The General Assembly, however, didsubject matter jurisdiction over any HB 24 PN 14Representative James not enact a specific spending regime.civil liability lawsuit in the county ofStruzzi (R, Indiana)This legislation Representative Michael Schlossbergthe alleged injury. establishes a Collaborative Care (D, Lehigh) is leading the House effortModel, an integrated care model that to craft legislation to effectively and2)Certificate of Merit Reformthiscan deliver timely psychiatric care efficiently distribute the allocatedlegislation would require a medicalin the primary care setting.PACEP funds.We anticipate legislation by lateliability certificate of merit reportsupports the Collaborative Care April, and this initiative to be part offrom a Pennsylvania-licensedModel. the state budget negotiations in Mayphysician with the same specialtyBill Information - House Bill 24; and June.PACEP is at the table withand credentials as the defendantRegular Session 2023-2024 - PA Representative Schlossberg. physician. General Assembly (state.pa.us)Please use the link below to reviewPACEP members will receive more SB 445 PN 429Senator Frank Farry Representative Schlossbergs information on the entire medical liability reform package as it is developed. (R, Bucks)This legislation establishes 8 PACEP News | Spring 2023'