Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; commuter rail system in the Commonwealth; report. Requests theDepartment of Rail and Public Transportation to study and developbest practices for constructing, operating, and maintaining commuterrail systems in the Commonwealth.
Commending the Cone Parade.
Health benefit plans; bills for emergency services; surprise bills; dispute resolution. Requires the Commissioner of the Bureau of Insurance to certify independent dispute resolution entities to resolve disputes arising from surprise bills for non-emergency health care services and for emergency service provided by non-participating providers. The measure implements "baseball-style" arbitration to resolve disputes between health carriers and physicians. Under this approach, each party submits a proposed dollar amount to the independent dispute resolution entity, who then chooses one as the appropriate payment amount. The measure provides that when an insured assigns benefits for a surprise bill or a bill for emergency services in writing to a non-participating physician who knows the insured is covered under a health benefit plan, the non-participating physician shall not bill the insured except for any applicable coinsurance, copayment, or deductible that would be owed if the insured utilized a participating physician. This bill was incorporated into HB 1251.
Naturopathic doctors; license required.Requires the Board of Medicine to license and regulate naturopathicdoctors, defined in the bill as an individual, other than a doctorof medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry, who may diagnose,treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice thatis based on the natural healing capacity of individuals, using physiological,psychological, or physical methods, and who may also use naturalmedicines, prescriptions, legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other naturalremedies, including light and air.
Commending the Washington Nationals.
Constitution of the United States; Equal RightsAmendment. Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitutionof the United States that was proposed by Congress in 1972. The jointresolution advocates the position that the 1972 Equal Rights Amendmentremains viable and may be ratified notwithstanding the expirationof the 10-year ratification period set out in the resolving clause,as amended, in the proposal adopted by Congress.
Ultrasound prior to abortion; physician civil penalty exemption. Provides that no physician shall be subject to a civil penalty for failure to perform or supervise the performance of the ultrasound imaging required prior to an abortion if, in his medical judgment, such ultrasound imaging is not medically necessary. Currently, any physician who violates any provision of the abortion informed consent statute is subject to a $2,500 civil penalty. This bill was incorporated into HB 980.
Professions and occupations; expediting the issuance of credentials to spouses of military service members and veterans. Provides for the expedited issuance of credentials to the spouses of military service members who are ordered to federal active duty under Title 10 of the United States Code or are veterans if the spouse accompanies the service member or veteran to the Commonwealth or an adjoining state or the District of Columbia. Under current law, the expedited review is provided more generally for active duty members of the military who are the subject of a military transfer to the Commonwealth. The bill also authorizes a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions or any other board in Title 54.1 (Professions and Occupations) to waive any requirement relating to experience if the board determines that the documentation provided by the applicant supports such waiver. This bill was incorporated into HB 967.
Commending the Washington Nationals.
Commending the United States Women's NationalSoccer Team.
