Central PA Medicine Spring 2018 - 34

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Maintenance of Certification
(MOC)

of physicians who utilize telemedicine, as part of the Human Services Code to
PAMED's government relations team, provide additional dollars for Medical
along with HAP, will continue to advocate Assistance. PAMED supports specialty
As a result of House of Delegates policy for this critical piece of legislation.
societies in opposing this tax by urging
established in the fall of 2017, PAMED
members to contact lawmakers to oppose,
is drafting legislation that would prohibit
stating that this tax will drive up health
health insurers and hospitals from using
care costs and put surgery centers at risk
MOC as part of their credentialing criDrug Formularies
of closing.
teria. The language will also prohibit the
physician licensing boards from using
Under current law, insurers are not
MOC as a condition of licensure.
required to provide practitioners with
drug alternatives when a drug prescribed
A Look Ahead
On Feb. 5, 2018, PAMED Past President by a practitioner is denied for not being
Charles Cutler, MD, MACP, an internal in the patient's insurance drug formulary.
Session: We can expect that the budget
medicine physician from Norristown, was As a result, practitioners must expend will take up a great deal of legislative time
one of 26 members chosen from a pool of time and resources to figure out what during the reasonably limited number of
nearly 200 applicants from 42 states for alternatives are available as part of a days the legislature is in session between
the new Vision Initiative Commission. The patient's insurance coverage. PAMED's now and June 30. The schedule is not
initiative, first launched in September 2017, Government Relations staff are working unusual, as this is a very busy election year.
was created to foster a collaborative dialogue to hold meetings with lawmakers on this
across a variety of stakeholder groups. The topic to identify sponsors and co-sponsors
Elections: The Governor's race has three
Commission will then present its recom- of legislation that would reform the drug GOP candidates heading into the primary
mendations and findings to the American formulary process to provide alternatives race on May 15. The entire House and 50
Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and at the time of prescription denial.
percent of the Senate are up for election.
24 Member Boards for their consideration.
Register to Vote: April 16 is the last day
PAMED is committed to and will
to register to vote before Pennsylvania's
continue to advocate for practical, evAdvocacy Day
Primary Election on May 15. Visit www.
idence-based, and affordable life-long
votespa.com for additional information,
learning. Learn more at www.pamedsoc.
PAMED's annual Advocacy Day is including applications for absentee ballot,
org/MOC.
scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, at the polling place location, and voter registraState Capitol in Harrisburg. Let your tion. Voting is important to help ensure
voice be heard and talk to legislators that your voice as a constituent, and as a
about important issues. PAMED mem- physician, is heard.
Telemedicine
bers are encouraged to participate. Learn
more and register at www.pamedsoc.org/
Two bills - SB 780 and HB 1648 - AdvocacyDay.
would establish a statutory definition for
telemedicine, mandate that telemedicine
services are reimbursed, and prohibit "audio only" services (video must be available
ASC Tax
if either the patient or provider requests it).
Gov. Tom Wolf 's 2018-19 state budPAMED remains optimistic that the get proposes a 2.81% provider tax on
General Assembly will ultimately pass a ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and
comprehensive telemedicine bill during endoscopy centers to generate $25 million
the current legislative session. On behalf on an annual basis. The tax is proposed

For the most up-to-date information on advocacy priorities and legislative issues,

please visit www.pamedsoc.org/advocacy.
34 Spring 2018 Central PA Medicine

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central PA Medicine Spring 2018