PRINTER'S NO. 1698
No. 1441 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY STETLER, GEORGE, BELARDI, COY, WALKO, MELIO,
JOSEPHS, HALUSKA, BELFANTI, SEMMEL, STEELMAN, RAMOS, CLARK,
MUNDY, DeLUCA, TRELLO, YOUNGBLOOD, COLAFELLA, STABACK,
PISTELLA, HORSEY, THOMAS, ROONEY AND M. COHEN, MAY 5, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MAY 5, 1997
AN ACT
1 Providing for the disclosure to patients by practitioners of the
2 healing arts of the types of health insurance payments
3 accepted, for enforcement and for a civil penalty.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Definitions.
7 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
8 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
9 context clearly indicates otherwise:
10 "Licensing boards." The following boards:
11 (1) State Board of Chiropractic.
12 (2) State Board of Dentistry.
13 (3) State Board of Medicine.
14 (4) State Board of Optometry.
15 (5) State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
16 (6) State Board of Pharmacy.
17 (7) State Board of Podiatry.
1 Section 2. Posting of notice.
2 A practitioner of the healing arts governed by any of the
3 licensing boards shall post in a conspicuous location in the
4 waiting rooms or at the reception area the types of health
5 insurance the practitioner accepts as payment, minus any
6 deductibles or other fees or requirements within the insurance
7 coverage, and any health maintenance organization that has the
8 practitioner as a participant.
9 Section 3. Enforcement.
10 (a) General rule.--This act shall be enforced by the
11 licensing boards. Each licensing board shall notify its
12 respective practitioner of the provisions of this act.
13 (b) Civil penalty.--A practitioner who violates section 2
14 may be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $100, upon a
15 determination of the same by the licensing board. A practitioner
16 shall be given an opportunity for a hearing on the proposed
17 penalty. Hearings and appeals shall be conducted in the manner
18 provided in 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and
19 procedure).
20 Section 4. Effective date.
21 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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