PRINTER'S NO. 1767

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 1477 Session of 1997

        INTRODUCED BY MANDERINO, THOMAS, BELARDI, MASLAND, BELFANTI,
           COY, WOJNAROSKI, ROONEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, GORDNER, BARRAR,
           LAUGHLIN, BEBKO-JONES, MELIO, DEMPSEY, VAN HORNE, TRICH,
           GIGLIOTTI, TIGUE, DeLUCA, BROWNE, ROBINSON, OLASZ,
           YOUNGBLOOD, STABACK, TRELLO, SHANER, M. COHEN, WALKO,
           BOSCOLA, CURRY, JOSEPHS, EVANS, BLAUM, CLYMER, PISTELLA,
           MYERS, A. H. WILLIAMS AND VANCE, MAY 7, 1997

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 7, 1997

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of July 8, 1986 (P.L.408, No.89), entitled, as
     2     reenacted and amended, "An act providing for the creation of
     3     the Health Care Cost Containment Council, for its powers and
     4     duties, for health care cost containment through the
     5     collection and dissemination of data, for public
     6     accountability of health care costs and for health care for
     7     the indigent; and making an appropriation," further providing
     8     for the powers and duties of the Health Care Cost Containment
     9     Council.

    10     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    11  hereby enacts as follows:
    12     Section 1.  Section 5(d) of the act of July 8, 1986 (P.L.408,
    13  No.89), known as the Health Care Cost Containment Act, reenacted
    14  and amended June 28, 1993 (P.L.146, No.34), is amended by adding
    15  a paragraph to read:
    16  Section 5.  Powers and duties of the council.
    17     * * *
    18     (d)  General duties and functions.--The council is hereby
    19  authorized to and shall perform the following duties and

     1  functions:
     2         * * *
     3         (14)  Collect, disseminate and maintain data on the
     4     quality and decline, if any, of nursing care as a result of
     5     the impact of unlicensed assistive health personnel or
     6     nurses' aides performing activities that constitute the
     7     practice of nursing in this Commonwealth. The data collection
     8     shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
     9             (i)  Nosocomial infections, such as hospital-acquired
    10         infections.
    11             (ii)  Patient injury rate, such as falls.
    12             (iii)  Maintenance of skin integrity, such as
    13         prevention of bed sores or decubitus ulcers.
    14             (iv)  Staffing mix between registered nurses,
    15         licensed practical nurses and unlicensed staff.
    16             (v)  Total nursing hours provided per patient.
    17     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.









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