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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Rep. Tony DeLuca
D-Allegheny
www.pahouse.com/DeLuca

 

 

DeLuca urges state agency to hold patient safety public hearings

 

HARRISBURG, June 23 –State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, said now that legislation he authored is law, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare should promptly develop a nursing home-specific list of serious preventable adverse events and detail the process of developing that list in Pennsylvania.

 

DeLuca said the new law prohibits health-care providers from seeking reimbursement for serious preventable medical errors, or for any service needed to correct or treat a problem caused by a serious, preventable medical error.

 

The Allegheny County legislator sent a letter to the Honorable Estelle Richman, DPW secretary, requesting the information.

 

"As chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I need to know when the process will begin and when the public meetings will be scheduled so I can inform committee members about developments on effectively implementing the law," DeLuca said.

 

DeLuca said Act 1of 2009  will prove to be a great value to the citizens both in terms of preventing adverse effects and increasing the safety and security people deserve while they receive medical care.

 

Act 1 of 2009 is part of the House Democratic Caucus' Health PAct, a package of bills focused on improving access to and reducing the cost of health care in Pennsylvania.

 

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