Advocacy Correspondence: Pennsylvania Senate Human Services Committee, Support for Senate Bill 545

May 17, 2023

The Honorable Michele Brooks
Chair, Human Services Committee
Pennsylvania Senate
Senate Box 203050
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3050

The Honorable Art Haywood
Minority Chair, Human Services Committee
Pennsylvania Senate
Senate Box 203004
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3004

Dear Chairwoman Brooks and Chairman Haywood:

On behalf of more than 235 members statewide, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) expresses its support of Senate Bill 545, sponsored by Senator Judy Ward. This bill amends Act 112 of 2018, which requires diagnostic imaging services to directly notify patients if test results indicate “significant abnormalities.”

It became evident soon after implementation that the law needed clarification. HAP has consistently been supportive of efforts continuing to protect patients’ health and safety while making Act 112 of 2018 more meaningful.

The primary benefit of the law is increased and timely communication with patients. We believe that SB 545 improves existing language and will achieve better outcomes by:

• removing ambiguous language related to “significant abnormality”
• providing written notice to the patient at the time that service is provided

HAP supports removal of “significant abnormality” language.

In practice, the provider of a diagnostic imaging service often does not know the patient and, thus, may not necessarily be able to interpret accurately a “significant abnormality” on a case-by-case basis. That determination is best made by the patient’s medical provider who ordered the test in the context of the patient’s overall medical condition. What may be a “significant abnormality” in one patient may not, in fact, reflect any clinical change or concern in another.

Without such context, many imaging service providers have understandably established a low threshold to initiate the “significant findings” process. This can unintentionally cause needless anxiety to patients and their families when they receive a letter that suggests disturbing test results. In addition to fear and stress, such communication can also lead patients to seek additional, unnecessary, time-consuming, and expensive follow-up tests.

HAP also supports that written notice be provided to patients at the time of service.

Patients should be clearly notified that the diagnostic service provider will review and send results to the medical expert who ordered the test. Patients should be directed to call their doctor if they have not reviewed test results in their electronic health record or heard from the ordering expert’s office within 21 days. Providing this information at the time of service ensures that such notice is timely received by the patient and is not delayed by administrative, mailing, or other potential issues.

On behalf of Pennsylvania hospitals, we respectfully ask that you please include SB 545 on the committee calendar and urge your colleagues to vote yes.

Thank you for all the ways you support your constituents’ health and safety. We stand ready to assist you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact me at HTyler@HAPonline.org or (717) 433-1997.

Sincerely,

Heather Tyler
Vice President, State Legislative Advocacy

c: The Honorable Judy Ward
     Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee

 

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Topics: Public Health, State Advocacy

Revision Date: 5/17/2023

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