RCPA Joins the Pennsylvania Provider Advocacy Coalition, Urges Pause in Consideration of H.B. 1611

RCPA has signed on with the Pennsylvania Provider Advocacy Coalition (PPAC) in urging the PA House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee to pause their consideration of House Bill 1611. The pause would allow stakeholders time to engage with the bill and supply feedback before the bill would be advanced.

Concerns regarding the bill include delays in hiring due to a drastic increase in applicants who would need to be processed for criminal history clearances; additional, unfunded costs for workers and employers; and a "rigid employment ban" applied across a variety of positions and facility types. As the letter states: 

We are not suggesting that criminal history should not be considered for hiring decisions. We support strong safeguards. We are asking that the General Assembly allow time to work with stakeholders to ensure that any new framework does not include unintended consequences that could disrupt health care delivery.

Read the full letter here.