An update on COVID-19 actions by the PA Legislature and Wolf administration
 

Gov. Wolf Signs Bills That Improve the Professional Licensure Process, Role of Physician Assistants in Patient Care

Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law five bills, including legislation that would give physician assistants a greater role in patient care. 

Senate Bill 397 updates physician assistant practice under the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act. Specifically, the bill revises the requirement that a physician assistant render medical care and services “under the supervision and direction” of the supervising physician, by requiring the physician assistant only be under the “supervision” of the supervising physician. The bill also increases the composition of the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine by two members, a physician assistant and a physician, who will be appointed by the governor. 

Senate Bill 398 updates physician assistant practice under the Medical Practice Act. Specifically, the bill revises the requirement that a physician assistant render medical care and services “under the supervision and direction” of the supervising physician, by requiring the physician assistant only be under the “supervision” of the supervising physician. The bill also increases the composition of the State Board of Medicine by two members, a physician assistant and a physician, who will be appointed by the governor. 

For additional information, see a copy of the news release here. 

PA Legislative Session 

The House met for session this past week and considered bills on the Disease Prevention and Control Act and annuities. 

The House Labor and Industry Committee will hold a hearing next week on the status of a variety of issues related to the unemployment compensation system. 

The Senate returns to session the week of October 18 and the House returns to session the week of October 25. The Senate has added November 8, 9 and 10 as voting session days and has canceled session for October 20 and November 15, 16 and 17. 

2021 House Session Schedule:
October 25, 26, 27
November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
December 13, 14, 15

2021 Senate Session Schedule:
October 18, 19, 25, 26, 27
November 8, 9, 10
December 13, 14, 15

For more information on the PA Legislature, see the Legislature's website.

Wolf Administration / Legislature: 

• Department of Aging: Long-term Care Council Meeting October 14
• Department of Health: Medical Marijuana Program, Availability of Clinical Registrant Applications and Time Period to Submit Applications
• Department of Labor and Industry: Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council Meeting October 14
• Health Care Cost Containment Council: Data Submission and Collection
• Department of Human Services: Managed Care Delivery System Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee
• Department of Human Services: ​Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee 

News & Views from Around the State: 

• Natural Gas Intelligence: Leading U.S. Natural Gas Operators Collaborate to Verify Emissions Reductions Across Supply Chains
• Power: Collaboration Brings the Energy for Pennsylvania Community
• Pennsylvania Business Report: Pennsylvania celebrates National Manufacturing Day
• ABC27: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health hosting blood drives during October 
• Daily Pennsylvanian: Penn Medicine CAREs grant recipients focus on projects to support local community 
• NorthCentralPA.com: Geisinger shares pink and shines pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 
• WTAJ: Pa. hospitals bring $155 billion in economic benefit to state in 2020 
• Trib-Live: Steelers, U.S. Steel team up to teach Franklin Regional students about steel and sustainability 

State Resources: 

• Sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. 
• Commonwealth of PA Updates
• PA DOH Updates
• Gov. Wolf Life-sustaining Business Order (issued 3/19)
• PA DCED COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program administered by PIDA to provide critical working capital financing to PA small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak

Federal Resources: 

• Department of Homeland Security CISA Essential Business Memo and Guidelines (issued 3/19)
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security CISA INSIGHTS Risk Management for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CDC Resources including video, fact sheets, posters, tools and resources available for use and distribution