The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed SB 685 PN 1000 and SB 686 PN 1001 yesterday, allowing out-of-state athletic team medical staffs to treat their players, coaches and other personnel while participating in games or tournaments in Pennsylvania.
Here are five things to know:
1. Prior to the bills, out-of-state athletic team medical staff could not treat players and others because they lacked a Pennsylvania license.
2. Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society worked with Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman on the bills' language based on model legislation the Big 10 Conference provided.
3. The legislation states any visiting team physician must be licensed in their home state and must have an agreement with a sports team to provide care for the team while traveling in that state.
4. The bills ban a visiting physician from practicing at a healthcare clinic or healthcare facility including an acute care facility in the visiting state. A visiting team physician can administer sideline evaluations, triage and diagnostic services. However, they must defer to a Pennsylvania licensed physician if an athlete or staff member needs to be transported to a facility.
5. The bills do not give prescriptive rights to out-of-state medical staff.
"Our Society is pleased the legislature has acted upon this important initiative. With this legislation, both home and visiting athletes will receive the top flight care they need to compete in Pennsylvania contests,” said POS President Samir Mehta, MD. "Our members thank both the Senate and House of Representatives for giving their unanimous support for this legislation."