Advocacy Correspondence: Senate Majority Policy Committee, Rural Health Care Challenges and Regulatory Considerations

March 18, 2024

The Honorable Daniel Laughlin Chairman
Senate Majority Policy Committee
Pennsylvania Senate
351 Main Capitol
Senate Box 203049
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Senator Laughlin,

Thank you and the Senate Majority Policy Committee for facilitating last month’s critical discussion about current challenges in rural health care. The issue is fundamental to a majority of the commonwealth’s communities, and the hospital community stands ready to help craft and implement policies to ensure that high-quality care is available to every Pennsylvanian, when and where they need it.

During the course of our discussion, the committee asked that I offer specific suggestions about where regulatory relief has the potential to improve hospital care in rural communities. Please see the enclosed list.

HAP welcomes a partnership with you, your legislative colleagues, the administration, and the Department of Health to find ways to adjust or eliminate rules that do not enhance patient care and, in some instances, impede it.

I would also like to take this opportunity to re-emphasize some of the Senate Republican legislative proposals that, as mentioned in my testimony, we believe can help address rural health care challenges:

• SB 817, Chairwoman Brooks’ bill to increase the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in developing the health care workforce. The bill has passed committee, had second consideration, and is currently in the Appropriations Committee.
• SB 739, Chairman Vogel’s bill to promote and regulate telehealth in the commonwealth. The bill has passed committee, had second consideration, and is currently in the Appropriations Committee.
• SB 668, Chairwoman Judy Ward’s bill to support bedside nurses by creating a position of ‘certified medication aide’ to function within specific guidelines in certain settings. The bill has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Health Committee.
• SB 606, Chairman Farry’s bill to help hospital emergency departments when they cannot find timely, appropriate care placements for patients with complex behavioral health concerns. The bill is currently in the State Government Committee.
• SB 445, Chairman Farry’s bill to timely connect more patients to mental health care by building partnerships between primary care and mental health providers. The bill is currently in the Health and Human Services Committee.
• SB 25, Senator Bartolotta’s bill to remove an unnecessary administrative requirement by allowing advanced practice nurses with at least three years of 3,600 hours of practice under physician supervision to continue to practice without a formal collaboration agreement. The bill is currently in the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

Again, thank you for continuing your work to keep the need for health care solutions in the public debate and at the top of the commonwealth’s priority list.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns—or if HAP or I can help you or your staff in any way—please call on me. I can be reached at (717) 991-5785 or NStallings@HAPonline.org.

 

Sincerely,

Nicole Stallings
President & Chief Executive Officer

 

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Topics: Behavioral Health, Regulatory Advocacy, Rural Health Care, State Advocacy, Telehealth, Workforce

Revision Date: 3/18/2024

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