On February 15th, representing URAC, I testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Labor and Industry Committee on the potential impact accreditation could have on reducing the variability among the state's utilization review organizations (UROs). 

The Committee was considering legislation, House Bill 18, which would establish a drug formulary and require the state’s workers’ compensation UROs to be accredited in a manner similar to the requirements for utilization management organizations governed by the state’s Department of Health.

In my testimony, I also highlighted URAC’s current market footprint in the state and discussed how accreditation could help address the opioid-abuse issue.

Despite the partisan bickering during the committee, no members raised objections to the legislation’s requirements that UROs achieve accreditation and no objections were raised to URAC accreditation. In fact, the Pennsylvania Department of Workers’ Compensation Services had no objections to the accreditation provisions in the legislation. Since the Department doesn’t endorse legislation, this should be viewed as a significant sign and is a direct result of the great presentation that Donna Merrick and Karen Watts gave to the Department’s leadership last year.

As this was the legislation’s first hearing, it still has a long way to go before it becomes law. However, the Committee Chairman hopes to pass the legislation out of committee in the coming months and early indicators suggest there may be enough support to enact before year’s end.

To read URAC’s testimony click here.

If you would like more information please feel free to reach out to me.