Kula helps introduce health-care measure
State Rep. Deberah Kula, D-North Union Township, stood side by side with Gov. Ed Rendell, members of the state House of Representatives and several representatives of the allied health-care field on Monday to introduce legislation that would expand the scope of practice for several health-care professionals. The event kicked off Nurses’ Week in Pennsylvania and provided members of the House with an opportunity to unveil legislation that would improve access to quality health care for residents of the state.
Kula said it was significant to announce the legislation during Nurses’ Week because of the quality of care nurses already provide day in and day out.
“Nurses, and so many other health-care employees, are talented and experienced professionals who are an integral part of our state’s delivery of quality medical treatment,” Kula said. “Part of the governor’s plan for improving access to and reducing costs of the state’s health-care system is to allow these professionals to use their training and expertise to their fullest potential.”
Kula has introduced legislation that would target expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists. Currently, pharmacists can manage drug therapy for patients only when they practice in an institution such as a hospital or nursing home. Kula said her bill would permit pharmacists to be part of the clinical team for private practices and other non-institutional settings, and play an integral role in assessing the prescription drug needs of a patient.
“For so many Pennsylvanians, most importantly seniors, prescription drugs are a vital part of their medical care,” Kula said. “Pharmacists are qualified to assess the pharmaceutical needs of a patient because pharmacists are trained and educated in how drugs work, how they can affect the body and their potential dangers. And in the long run, allowing pharmacists to play a more significant role may help to reduce costs and provide another avenue of access.”
In addition to pharmacists, Kula said she is in support of expanding the scope of practice for other health-care professionals, including nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, certified registered nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists. She added that each component of this proposal warrants its own scrutiny, which is why the bills are being introduced separately.
“But the concept is unified,” she added. “Under the Prescription for Pennsylvania plan, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals would be able to provide all of the services for which they are trained and educated, which in turn would provide better access to care for patients and move health-care reform forward here in Pennsylvania.”
In keeping with the standard of increasing public input set by the new Democratic majority in the state House, the House Professional Licensure Committee will hold public hearings on each of the bills introduced regarding this proposal. Kula said this would be an important opportunity for her and her colleagues to hear what the public has to say.