Bill Text: PA HB657 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for vaccinations policies at general acute care hospitals.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 7-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-14 - Referred to INSURANCE [HB657 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB657-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 657
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 657 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, BOBACK, D. COSTA, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, HORNAMAN, RAPP, ROCK, STABACK AND VULAKOVICH, FEBRUARY 14, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, FEBRUARY 14, 2011
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), entitled
"An act reforming the law on medical professional liability;
providing for patient safety and reporting; establishing the
Patient Safety Authority and the Patient Safety Trust Fund;
abrogating regulations; providing for medical professional
liability informed consent, damages, expert qualifications,
limitations of actions and medical records; establishing the
Interbranch Commission on Venue; providing for medical
professional liability insurance; establishing the Medical
Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund; providing for
medical professional liability claims; establishing the Joint
Underwriting Association; regulating medical professional
liability insurance; providing for medical licensure
regulation; providing for administration; imposing penalties;
and making repeals," providing for vaccinations policies at
general acute care hospitals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 402 of the act of March 20, 2002
(P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and
Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, is amended by adding a
definition to read:
Section 402. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"General acute care hospital." The term shall have the same
meaning as given to it in section 801-E of the act of June 13,
1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code.
* * *
Section 2. Section 403 of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 403. Infection control plan.
* * *
(a.1) General acute care hospital.--Within 120 days of the
effective date of this subsection, a general acute care hospital
shall, in accordance with department guidelines and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and, if supplies
of vaccines are available, implement a policy that requires its
employees to receive influenza vaccinations or, if the employee
elects not to be vaccinated, to declare in writing that he or
she has declined the vaccination.
* * *
Section 3. Section 408 of the act is amended by adding a
paragraph to read:
Section 408. Duties of Department of Health.
The department is responsible for the following:
* * *
(4.1) The development of guidelines for general acute
care hospitals to, in accordance with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention guidelines and if supplies of vaccines
are available, require employees to receive influenza
vaccinations or, if the employee elects not to be vaccinated,
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to declare in writing that he or she has declined the
vaccination.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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