SR 397 — A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study examining the financial impact of outdated hospital regulations on hospitals in this Commonwealth, the erosion of the scope of practice of physicians in rural areas and measures to preserve physician-led medical practice and improve physician recruitment and retention in rural areas of this Commonwealth.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2045 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RESOLUTION Session of No.

2050 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RESOLUTION Session of No.

WARD AND HUTCHINSON, OCTOBER 15, 2026 REFERREDSENATOR TOBROOKS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 15,19, 2026 A RESOLUTION Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on EXAMINING the financial impact of outdated <-- hospital regulations on hospitals in this Commonwealth.datedCommonwealth., hospitalTHE WHEREAS,<-- TheEROSION SenateOF recognizesTHE theSCOPE paramountOF importancePRACTICE ofOF hospitalPHYSICIANS regulationsIN toRURAL ensureAREAS thatAND patientsMEASURES receiveTO safe,PRESERVE high-PHYSICIAN-LED qualityMEDICAL care;PRACTICE AND IMPROVE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN RURAL AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes the paramount importance of hospital regulations to ensure that patients receive safe, high- quality care;

and WHEREAS, TheTHE LegislativeRECRUITMENT BudgetAND andRETENTION FinanceOF Committee,PHYSICIANS withAND itsTHE proven<-- expertisePRESERVATION inOF conductingPHYSICIAN-LED impartialMEDICAL research,PRACTICE conveningARE impactedIMPORTANT stakeholders,CONSIDERATIONS providingIN objectiveMAINTAINING analysesACCESS andTO draftingHEALTH actionableCARE recommendations,IN isRURAL uniquelyAREAS positionedOF toTHIS undertakeCOMMONWEALTH; such an examination;

thereforeAND beWHEREAS, itThe RESOLVED,Legislative ThatBudget theand SenateFinance directCommittee, thewith Legislativeits Budgetproven andexpertise Financein Committeeconducting toimpartial conductresearch, aconvening studyimpacted examiningstakeholders, theproviding financialobjective impactanalyses ofand outdateddrafting hospitalactionable regulationsrecommendations, onis hospitalsuniquely inpositioned thisto Commonwealth;undertake such an examination;

therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study examining the financial impact of outdated hospital regulations on hospitals in this Commonwealth, THE EROSION OF THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS <-- IN RURAL AREAS AND MEASURES TO PRESERVE PHYSICIAN-LED MEDICAL PRACTICE AND IMPROVE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN RURAL AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH;

(3) an evaluation of the volume of resources currently 20260SR0397PN2050 - 2 - expended by hospitals to comply with regulations, including the number of full-time equivalents, salaries, operational costs and construction costs;

and 20260SR0397PN2045<-- - 2 - (6) the development of specific recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to improve the regulatory environment for hospitals in this Commonwealth;

and be it further RESOLVED,<-- That(7) theAN LegislativeEXAMINATION BudgetOF andWHETHER FinanceAND CommitteeTO consultWHAT withEXTENT relevantTHE stakeholders,<-- includingSCOPE theOF DepartmentPRACTICE ofOF Health,PHYSICIANS DepartmentIN ofRURAL State,AREAS hospitalsOF andTHIS otherCOMMONWEALTH expertsHAS asBEEN deemedERODED necessary;AND THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ANY EROSION;

(8) AN EVALUATION OF LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES THAT COULD PRESERVE THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS AND PHYSICIAN-LED MEDICAL PRACTICE IN RURAL AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH;

AND (9) AN ASSESSMENT OF BARRIERS TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING PHYSICIANS IN RURAL AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN THOSE AREAS;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee consult with relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Department of State, hospitals, PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN <-- RURAL AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING 20260SR0397PN2050 - 3 - PHYSICIANS, MEDICAL SCHOOLS and other experts as deemed necessary;

20260SR0397PN204520260SR0397PN2050 - 34 -