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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Gabrielle A. Prutisto |
State Rep. Jaret Gibbons |
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Gibbons’ bill to certify clinical nurse specialists goes to governor
Joins other Prescription for Pennsylvania measures passed by legislature
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Lawrence/Beaver/Butler, said several bills important to Pennsylvania’s health-care reform efforts need to clear just one more step to become law. The House agreed with the Senate on several key components of the Prescription for Pennsylvania plan and sent them to the governor for his signature.
The package includes legislation introduced by Gibbons (H.B. 1254) that would require licensure for clinical nurse specialists in Pennsylvania and reserve the title for health-care professions who meet certification qualifications and state education and training standards.
The bill is included in a package of measures House Democrats introduced as part of Gov. Ed Rendell’s Prescription for Pennsylvania health-care initiative. In addition to Gibbons’ legislation, the House and Senate have also passed other portions of the package that would expand scope of practice for health-care workers such as clinical registered nurse practitioners and licensed nurse-midwives.
“These bills will not only expand access to care for all Pennsylvanians, but also reduce costs to the health-care system and health-care consumers,” Gibbons said. “I am proud of my colleagues for their help in getting my bill and all of these measures passed. This effort was long overdue.”
Gibbons said the Prescription for Pennsylvania plan is designed to improve health care in Pennsylvania by reducing hospital-acquired infections, expanding access to routine medical care, reducing the need for expensive emergency room care in hospitals and expanding the ability of many health-care workers to practice in Pennsylvania to the fullest extent of their training.
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