HB 475 — An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for dialysis centers.

PRINTER'S NO.   458

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 475
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, FREEMAN AND
        KENYATTA, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
        FEBRUARY 4, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
 2      act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
 3      duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
 4      providing the powers and duties of the State Health
 5      Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
 6      Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
 7      Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
 8      providing for certification of need of health care providers
 9      and prescribing penalties," in licensing of health care
10      facilities, providing for dialysis centers.
11      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12   hereby enacts as follows:
13      Section 1.    The act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
14   as the Health Care Facilities Act, is amended by adding a
15   section to read:
16   Section 823.    Dialysis centers.
17      (a)   Ratios.--A facility in this Commonwealth that is
18   licensed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
19   offering dialysis services on an inpatient or outpatient basis,
20   whether or not owned by a hospital or the Commonwealth, shall
21   maintain a minimum of one dialysis caregiver for every four
 1   patients actively receiving dialysis services, and shall provide
 2   sufficient care to meet the needs of each patient.
 3      (b)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 4   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 5   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 6      "Dialysis caregiver."       Any of the following individuals
 7   trained in dialysis procedures and direct patient care during
 8   treatment, including initiation of treatment, termination of
 9   treatment and monitoring vital signs:
10            (1)   A physician.
11            (2)   A physician assistant.
12            (3)   A nurse practitioner.
13            (4)   A registered nurse.
14            (5)   A licensed practical nurse.
15            (6)   A dialysis technician.
16      "Dialysis services."       Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
17   used to treat end-stage renal disease.
18      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB0475PN0458                      - 2 -