|
ADVOCACY Do you want to help shape the policies and regulations that affect your patients' safety and your profession? Do you already have a change in mind? Advocacy isn't just defensive - it's proactive. You can push for smarter, more practical regulations. Even light involvement ensures your voice is heard before decisions are made. Advocacy is about building relationships that matter. A few hours each month can build strong ties with legislators, agencies, and other associations. These connections open doors when you really need them. It's a small investment with a big return. Even 1-2 hours a month will keep you informed and give you a voice. Are you ready to get started? Email us at info@paeyemds.org. No pressure, we'll let you know when we meet next. |
PAO Advocating for You
Medical Waste Legislation
House Bill 446 (Rep Sanchez)
The goal of this 2025 legislation is to avoid wastage of medication opened for care that are also prescribed for home use for acute, chronic, or post-surgical care.
House Bill 446 relieves regulatory barriers to sending drops home with Ambulatory Surgical Center patients.
It requires hospitalized patients to be offered partially empty bottles upon discharge if prescribed for home. The language specifically addresses drops, ointments, and nasal sprays.
If passed this legislation would reduce:
Plastic waste
Medicine waste
Cost to patients
Inconvenience of pharmacy visits for patients and families.
We hope to see this legislation make progress through the House of Representatives this year.
Legislative Session Update We are halfway through the 2025-26 legislative session. All introduced bills have until November 30, 2026 to pass through the legislative process and get across the Governor’s desk. If they don’t make it through, they effectively die and must be reintroduced in the following session for future consideration. The House and Senate released their spring session schedule as follows: Senate House Jan 26, 27 & 28 Feb 2, 3 & 4 2, 3 & 4 Mar 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25 23, 24 & 25 Apr 20, 21 & 22 13, 14, 15, 27, 28 & 29 May 4, 5 & 6 4, 5 & 6 PA General Assembly The legislature continues to operate with slim margins between Democrats and Republicans in both chambers, making strong bipartisan support a necessity for every piece of legislation. Here is the current breakdown: · House: 100 D - 99 R · Senate: 27 R – 23 D A handful of representatives resigned from the House in 2025:
Special elections will be held in the coming months to fill these four seats. Those elections must be held at least 70 days after each resignation. Elections 2026 is an election year. All 203 members of the House of Representatives and 25 out of 50 Senators are up for re-election (only even-numbered district seats). In addition, Governor Josh Shapiro and Lt. Governor Austin Davis are also up for re-election. Several have already announced their plans to resign/retire at the end of session in November 2026 including:
|
Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. All Rights Reserved. |
|
