Bill Text: PA SB474 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Further providing for administration by Department of Health.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-03-02 - Referred to PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE [SB474 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB474-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 484
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 474 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY KASUNIC, HUGHES, COSTA, KITCHEN, LOGAN, O'PAKE, TARTAGLIONE, BOSCOLA, FERLO, FONTANA, MUSTO, STACK, STOUT, BROWNE AND RAFFERTY, MARCH 2, 2009
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 2, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
providing the powers and duties of the State Health
Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
providing for certification of need of health care providers
and prescribing penalties," further providing for
administration by Department of Health.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 804 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130,
No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, amended
December 18, 1992 (P.L.1602, No.179), is amended to read:
Section 804. Administration.
(a) Discrimination prohibited.--Except as otherwise provided
by law, no provider shall discriminate in the operation of a
health care facility on the basis of race, creed, sex or
national origin.
(b) Prevention of duplication.--In carrying out the
provisions of this chapter and other statutes of this
Commonwealth relating to health care facilities, the department
and other departments and agencies of the State and local
governments shall make every reasonable effort to prevent
duplication of inspections and examinations. The department may
make the dates of licensure expiration coincide with medical
assistance and Medicare certification or applicable nationally
recognized accrediting agencies accreditation and shall combine
these surveys and inspections where practical.
(c) Health care innovation.--The department shall administer
this chapter so as to encourage innovation and experimentation
in health care and health care facilities consistent with the
provisions of this chapter and shall encourage contributions of
private funds and services to health care facilities.
(d) Reports.--The department shall report annually to the
General Assembly on the effectiveness of the licensing and
enforcement of this chapter. Such report shall include
appropriate data according to nature of facility relating to
provisional licenses issued, nature of violations of regulations
and number of facilities against which sanctions had to be
taken.
(e) Toll-free telephone number.--The department shall
establish and maintain a 24-hour-a-day toll-free telephone
number for receiving complaints regarding a health care facility
that the department licenses. The toll-free telephone number
shall be staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year.
(f) Facilities to post certain telephone numbers.--Health
care facilities licensed by the department under this chapter
shall post in conspicuous public places throughout their
20090SB0474PN0484 - 2 -
facilities and in a manner clearly visible to the residents and
visitors:
(1) the department's 24-hour-a-day toll-free telephone
number for receiving complaints established under subsection
(e); and
(2) the telephone number of the long-term-care ombudsman
located within the local area agency on aging as established
by the Department of Aging.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
20090SB0474PN0484 - 3 -