FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2006
Contact: Tracy Polovick
Coordinator of Communications and Outreach
(717) 787-8524
Back

Vance Introduces Bill to End Physician Referral Motivated by Financial Interest

HARRISBURG – Health care practitioners would be prohibited from referring patients to facilities in which they have a financial interest under legislation recently introduced by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York).

"Sixteen states have enacted similar legislation and federal law limits certain physician referrals to designated health services when Medicare is the payer," said Vance. "This bill will help strengthen health care and bring Pennsylvania in line with the other states. Self-referral practices often result in overutilization of health care services, increases in health care costs, and in some cases, adverse affects to quality of care."

Senate Bill 1293 also would prohibit health care facilities from accepting referrals when they are aware of a referring practitioner's financial or ownership interest.

The bill was referred to the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York County.

Home | Profile | News | Multimedia | Photo Gallery | District Info | Constituent Services | Contact Me | Office Staff | Senate Resources | State Resources | Federal Resources | Senior Resources | Veterans Resources | Kids Resources | Search

2006 © Senate of Pennsylvania