Governor signs budget, numerous health care bills acted on

On Thursday July 11, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law Pennsylvania's 2024-5 state budget. The spending measure includes full restoration of the Primary Health Care Practitioner line Item in the Pa Dept of Health, with new monies for primary care physician recruitment and retention programs via the Department and PAFP.  Other key legislative issue include a modest change in noncompete rules (HB 1633), expanded childhood vaccine administration scope for pharmacists (HB 1993), and bills that will pave the way for Pennsylvania to be compliant and able to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Legislative efforts to advance CRNP independence did not pass the Senate. Thank you to all our members and supporters for their advocacy efforts.

Telemedicine bill passes legislature, governor signs into law

Senate Bill 739, legislation that requires provider reimbursement for, and offers guidance on the use of telemedicine services in Pennsylvania, was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro after passing both the state Senate and House with bipartisan support. The PAFP has long advocated for telemedicine legislation and applauds the legislature and governor for prioritizing health care access for all Pennsylvanians.

Physician organizations call for medical liability reform

On Monday, June 10, several medical associations hosted a press conference calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly to take action on medical liability reform. In the wake of a 2022 PA Supreme Court decision that overturned a rule on "venue shopping," data reveals an uptick in medical liability lawsuits filed in traditionally high verdict counties. The PAFP supports returning to the 2002 rule, which prohibited "venue shopping" in medical liability cases. Proposals to address the issue are currently awaiting consideration in the state Senate. Read the PAFP's statement on the medical liability crisis.

Member Appreciation Day - Saturday, July 20 - Registration is now closed.

We hope you and your guests can join us for a fun-filled day at Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg, PA, on Saturday, July 20. Free picnic for the PAFP member, free parking, free admission! If you’ve never been to Knoebels, it’s a great family park with a beautiful campground, huge pool, and lots of great food and rides. There’s something for kids of all ages, including one of the best haunted houses anywhere…sure to be a thriller!   Click here to register!  Park Hours are 12 pm – 9 pm. All details will be sent well in advance.

Registration is open for the October FM Essentials Summit!   
Join your colleagues during this licensure year for an outstanding event featuring mandated CME on Child Protection and Opioids/Addiction along with a selection of primary care topics offering up-to-the-minute information for your practice. All sessions meet the patient safety requirement that’ll also help with your requirements. Half day registration and virtual options available to accommodate extremely busy schedules. Preview the agenda now. This event will be at the Drexelbrook Event Center in Drexel Hill, PA, on Saturday, October 19. Book your discounted room early! Click here to register.   

According to a recent member survey, FREE online CME is one of the most popular benefits of PAFP membership. So we're adding EVEN MORE outstanding patient safety CME to our on-demand library. Free to all PAFP members! Access recorded CME sessions at your convenience through your free Eeds account, which records and tracks your CME credits. See current list of webcasts.