Bill Text: PA SB662 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for authority relating to medical facilities.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-01 - Referred to PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE [SB662 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SB662-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 720
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 662 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, LEACH, FONTANA, SCARNATI, GREENLEAF, YUDICHAK, D. WHITE, ERICKSON, WOZNIAK, WARD, KASUNIC, FARNESE, FERLO AND BROWNE, MARCH 1, 2011
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 1, 2011
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
number and compensation of the deputies and all other
assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
commissions shall be determined," providing for authority
relating to medical facilities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 2126. Authority Relating to Medical Facilities.--(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of
Health shall have the following powers and duties relating to
medical facilities approved by the department under 28 Pa.Code §
29.43 (relating to facility approval):
(1) To annually conduct an onsite inspection of each medical
facility. The inspection shall determine the medical facility's
compliance with all laws and regulations governing the facility
and that are under the department's jurisdiction. The department
annually shall conduct one unannounced onsite inspection of each
medical facility. The department shall have the authority to
conduct additional announced or unannounced inspections of a
facility as it deems necessary. All inspections shall be
conducted in a manner that does not significantly impact patient
care. The department, by regulation, may provide for an
abbreviated annual inspection when a medical facility has
established a history of exemplary compliance.
(2) To establish a single Statewide toll-free telephone
number that a patient, an individual acting on behalf of a
patient or a health care worker may use to file a complaint
about a medical facility or against a health care worker at the
facility and to require each facility to post the telephone
number in a conspicuous location within the facility. The toll-
free telephone number shall be used solely for accepting
complaints identified under this section and shall be in
addition to any procedure currently used by the department to
accept complaints. In addition to any other power or authority
authorized by law, the department shall have the duty to:
(i) investigate any complaint received under this paragraph;
(ii) refer the complaint to the Bureau of Professional and
Occupational Affairs in the Department of State if the complaint
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involves allegations against a health care worker licensed by
the Department of State; or
(iii) refer the complaint to an appropriate law enforcement
agency for investigation if the department reasonably believes
that the allegations contained in the complaint, if true,
constitute a criminal violation of the laws of this
Commonwealth.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term "medical
facility" or "facility" shall have the same meaning as the term
is used in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3203 (relating to definitions).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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