State Reps. K.C. Tomlinson and Meghan Schroeder have co-sponsored legislation to require the establishment of a registry of medical directors in nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities.
“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, medical directors and physicians who provide clinical care in post-acute and long-term care settings are more critical than ever,” Tomlinson said. “That’s why Pennsylvania must maintain a registry of these officials so we can use this physician resource in preparing for a pandemic.”
House Bill 2792, sponsored by Rep. Wendi Thomas, would require maintenance of a registry of medical directors to be used by the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services.
The legislators worked with Dr. Daniel Haimowitz, past president of the Pennsylvania Medical Directors Association and founder of the Bucks Long-Term Care Consortium, in the development of this legislation.
In addition, the bill increases transparency, as nursing home residents and their families would have a right to know the physician who is charged with the vital tasks of coordinating the medical care given in the facility.
