Pennsylvania Act 2023-50 — DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CREATION - STATE HEALTH CENTERS AND EDITORIAL CHANGES

Act text

Session of 2023

No. 2023-50

HB 1131

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 27, 1905 (P.L.312, No.218), entitled "An act creating a Department of Health, and defining its powers and duties," further providing for State health centers; and making editorial changes.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 8(b) and (c) of the act of April 27, 1905 (P.L.312, No.218), entitled "An act creating a Department of Health, and defining its powers and duties," are amended to read:

Section 8. * * *

(b) The Secretary of Health shall cause examination to be made of nuisances or questions affecting the security of life and health in any locality, and for that purpose the secretary, and any person authorized by [him] the secretary so to do, may, without fee or hindrance, enter, examine and survey all grounds, vehicles, apartments, buildings, and places within the State, and all persons so authorized by [him] the secretary shall have the powers and authority conferred by law upon constables.

(c) (1) With the exception of [the three State health centers selected for the review program established in paragraph (2),] a State health center in any county that is established as a separate county health department under the act of August 24, 1951 (P.L.1304, No.315), known as the Local Health Administration Law, the department shall operate [those] public State health centers and provide at a minimum those public health services in effect as of July 1, 1995. [Except as provided in paragraph (2), the] The department shall not enter into contracts with any additional private providers that would result in the elimination of any State health center nor reduce the scope of services currently provided nor reduce the number of centers.

[(4) On or before December 31, 1997, the department shall submit a report to the General Assembly, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) A review and analysis of the three health care centers or of the provision of equivalent services in the review program, including patient utilization and services provided.

(ii) An analysis of the performance of each local health care provider, including patient satisfaction with the provision of services.

(iii) A review of other delivery systems for health services in the community, both public and private.

(iv) A comparison of the cost and effectiveness of the operation of each of the three health care centers by the Commonwealth with the cost of the provision of equivalent services by local health care providers.

(v) Recommendations regarding continuation of the provision of the services previously provided by the three health care centers included in the study program by local health care providers.

(vi) Recommendations regarding the public and private operation of all remaining health care centers or the provision of equivalent services in this Commonwealth.]

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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 14th day of December, A.D. 2023.

JOSH SHAPIRO