Bill Text: PA HB1879 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for identification badge for licensed health care practitioner and for penalties.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 17-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-07-22 - Referred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE [HB1879 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1879-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2496
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1879 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, DAY, EVERETT, HARHART, MANN, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MYERS, O'NEILL, PHILLIPS, QUINN, RAPP, SIPTROTH, SWANGER, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, ADOLPH AND BARRAR, JULY 22, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JULY 22, 2009
AN ACT
Providing for identification badge for licensed health care
practitioner and for penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care
Practitioner Identification Badge Act.
Section 2. Purpose.
It is the purpose of this act to provide a uniform standard
in health care settings by which patients can be apprised of the
identity and licensure credentials of individuals who provide
health care services to them.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The State Board of Medicine, the State Board of
Osteopathic Medicine, the State Board of Dentistry, the State
Board of Podiatry, the State Board of Nursing, the State Board
of Optometry, the State Board of Chiropractic, the State Board
of Physical Therapy, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State
Board of Psychology, the State Board of Examiners in Speech-
Language and Hearing, the State Board of Occupational Therapy
Education and Licensure and the State Board of Social Workers,
Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
"Bureau." The Bureau of Professional and Occupational
Affairs within the Department of State.
"Health care practitioner." An individual who is authorized
to practice a component of the healing arts by a license,
permit, certificate or registration issued by a licensing board
within the Department of State.
Section 4. Identification badge required.
(a) Requirement.--When treating a patient, working in a
health care facility or when engaged in face-to-face contact
with the public in a professional capacity, a health care
practitioner shall wear an identification badge displaying the
practitioner's name and photograph and the license,
certification or registration held by the practitioner.
(b) Type of badge.--The identification badge shall be
designed in accordance with the standards set forth under
section 5.
Section 5. Standards.
Badges must comply with the following standards:
(1) The overall size of the badge shall be at least
three and one-fourth inches by two inches.
(2) A photograph of the practitioner shall be on the
badge and shall be at least one and one-fourth inches by one
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and one-fourth inches in size.
(3) The name and degree of the practitioner shall be in
12-point bold-face type.
(4) The professional license, certification or
registration designation of the practitioner shall be in 18-
point type and shall occupy a one-half inch wide strip along
the bottom edge of the badge.
Section 6. Issuance.
The board shall issue two identification badges required
under this act to a practitioner upon the issuance of an
original or renewed professional license, certificate or
registration to a practitioner.
Section 7. Exceptions.
(a) General exceptions.--A health care practitioner shall
not be required to wear an identification badge while engaged in
procedures requiring full sterile dress or procedures requiring
other protective clothing or covering. Identification of the
practitioner may be limited to first name only and professional
designation when full name identification may place the personal
safety of the practitioner in jeopardy or interfere with the
therapeutic relationship between the practitioner and a patient.
(b) Other exceptions.--The bureau may designate additional
exceptions consistent with paragraph (a).
Section 8. Alternative identification badges.
A hospital, nursing home, pharmacy, physician practice or
other health care facility may issue an identification badge to
a practitioner practicing in that facility, which may be worn in
lieu of the identification badge required under this act if:
(1) the badge comports with the standards set forth
under section 5; and
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(2) approval is granted by the bureau.
Section 9. Violation.
A violation of this act is a ground for disciplinary action
against the health care practitioner by the practitioner's
licensing board or other regulatory authority.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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