Advocacy Correspondence: Support Memo, House Bill 192

March 11, 2021

TO:  Members of the Pennsylvania House Professional Licensure Committee

FROM:  The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylania

SUBJECT:  Support House Bill 192

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), on behalf of its members— more than 240 acute and specialty hospitals and health systems—appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on House Bill 192, sponsored by Representative Jesse Topper.

HAP supports House Bill 192. This long-awaited fix to the Interstate Medical Licensure Act enables Pennsylvania to fully participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC).

Governor Wolf signed Act 112 of 2016 that granted Pennsylvania the authority to join the IMLC making it easier for physicians to provide care across state lines. House Bill 192 addresses issues raised by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and provides for clarification of the sharing of information.

In January of 2020, HAP published recommendations compiled by an industry-wide task force, “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Health Care Workforce Challenges,” highlighting the shortages hospitals and health systems are experiencing today and what should be done in the future to ensure access to quality care. Joining licensure compacts like the IMLC enables Pennsylvania’s patient population to leverage the nation’s entire health care workforce and brings the commonwealth closer to meeting Pennsylvania’s workforce needs.

The task force also recommended:

• Progressive professional practice acts and regulations
• Continued advocacy for the efficient and timely application process for licensure and re- licensure by the commonwealth’s professional licensing boards
• Aligned governmental regulations and programs to reduce the administrative burdens on the caregivers within Pennsylvania’s health care delivery system
• Continued efforts to promote and support patient-centered care

By allowing the commonwealth to fully participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure compact, Pennsylvania is taking preliminary but necessary steps to address health care workforce concerns.

Thank you in advance for your support.

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Topics: State Advocacy, Workforce

Revision Date: 3/11/2021

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