Pennsylvania bill prohibits reimbursement for "never events"

Governor Edward G. Rendell signed three health care bills that were part of his Prescription for Pennsylvania health care reform plan and a fourth that was originally proposed as part of the Senate Republican package of health care bills. One bill – HB 84 – prohibits health care providers from seeking reimbursement for a serious, preventable medical error, often called “never events.” In January 2008, the Department of Public Welfare implemented a policy to prohibit hospitals to bill Medicaid for 27 “never events,” such as operating on the wrong patient, medication errors that result in death or disability and bad blood transfusions.