HARRISBURG – The House recently advanced legislation proposed by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) to increase opportunities for resident to receive care by improving Pennsylvania’s Professional Nursing Law.
“It’s estimated that more than 4 million Pennsylvanians, or nearly 35% of the state’s population, are underserved in receiving adequate primary care,” Topper said. “A person’s zip code or demographic should not dictate his or her access to care.”
Topper’s House Bill 100 would create a six-year pilot program to allow certified registered nurse practitioners to practice without a collaborative agreement in areas of the state that are experiencing a critical shortage of primary care.
Participants must meet stringent criteria and would be limited to providing primary care, which includes family practice, internal medicine, gynecology, or pediatrics to patients.
The legislation would also require a study into the program be completed and delivered to the General Assembly to guide further legislative effort after the fifth year of the program.
Improving access to adequate health care, and particularly modernizing Pennsylvania’s Professional Nursing Law, has been an issue Topper has long sought to improve.
“Pennsylvania is a modern state, and our health care should reflect that,” Topper said. “My initiatives seek to improve Pennsylvanians access to one of the most basic of needs – quality care.”
House Bill 100 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
