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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio |
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DeLissio seeks to broaden medical staff definitions
Hospitals would be granted autonomy on what personnel they include on staff
HARRISBURG, June 18 – State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio, D-Montgomery/Phila., will offer an amendment to include certified registered nurse practitioners in the definition of medical personnel in legislation (H.B. 1570) facing a House vote.
"Although House Bill 1570 addresses a long overdue overhaul of the rules and regulations under which hospitals operate, it falls short by not including certified registered nurse practitioners or allowing hospitals autonomy in deciding which health care professionals the hospitals want to extend medical staff privileges," DeLissio said.
"We have escalating health care costs," DeLissio said. "Many of our rural areas are not adequately served due to the lack of available physicians. CRNPs deliver a more personal level of care. As a former long-term care administrator, I am familiar with how instrumental CRNPs are in delivering care.
"I will be introducing an amendment so that the definition of hospital medical staff is not limited to physicians, dentists and podiatrists," DeLissio said. "It would then be up to the governing body of each hospital to decide which medical staff should be granted membership."
DeLissio said there has been no good or sufficient reason offered as to why the medical staff membership is so narrowly defined.
"Perhaps it is an age old 'turf war;' perhaps it is the reluctance to embrace new professionals. Regardless of the reason, it is a disservice to the citizens of Pennsylvania to not have this legislation amended to prevent the CRNP from being precluded. We had to wait 30 years for the current legislation. It would be a disgrace to jeopardize the future health care of our citizens by omitting this amendment."
House Bill 1570 is in position to be amended by the full House.
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