Proposed Change In PA State Cosmetic Laser Regulations Would Force Laser Clinics To Close

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New regulations proposed in PA and would require physicians to be on-site during all cosmetic laser and IPL treatments.

Notice to all physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, estheticians and laser technicians in PA: I'm asking your help to oppose a new regulations in Pennsylvania requiring changes to who can perform cosmetic laser and IPL treatments.

This law is attempting to be passed through regulatory agencies and implies that estheticians are negligent with the use of lasers and cause harm to patients.  Many of the physicians I spoke with stated they have treated many patients harmed at the hands of other physicians.

The new regulation will stipulate that only physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will be permitted to operate an aesthetic laser and if the operator is not a physician, the physician must be on-site during the use of the laser and must perform an assessment on the patient prior to treatment.

This would effectively eliminate the use of estheticans and laser techs from performing any laser-based treatment and could force many clinics to drastically change their business models, or close altogether.

Negative effects of this change in regulation will include:

  • Raising prices far above what they currently are by forcing even treatments such as laser hair removal to be performed by a physician or PA, RN, NP with a physician on-site and evaluating every patient.
  • Eliminating many options for consumers: Who is the MD who wants to push the trigger on every IPL pulse?
  • Driving patients outside of the state to get these treatments at a reasonable price.
  • Forcing many medical spas, clinics and phsicians offices to retire the use of such laser technicians, thus driving the unemployment rate up in Pennsylvania (primarily women)
  • Reducing the sale of lasers in the state of PA
  • Potentially causing the formation of "underground" laser clinics in the state making procedures potentially even more harmful (need I remind you of the bath tub caulk being injected into the butts of women in a hotel outside of the Philadelphia International Airport?)
  • Cosing of businesses (such as my laser clinic I own with my physician-husband because he can't be on-site during all hours of operation), thus closing another female-owned business in the state of PA

These are just a few of the negative consequences that would evolve if this law were to be passed. We are requesting your action in opposing this proposed regulation and are requesting the following documentation from each of you to make our case:

Estheticians and Laser Technicians

  • a credentialing statement (education, certifications, years of experience, types of lasers used, etc.)
  • a letter from your physician/medical director (addressed to the licensure committee)
  • education documentation
  • 10 patient testimonials (addressed to the licensure committee)
  • a letter to your local Senators, Representatives and our Governor for support and inviting them to come observe you perform a procedure
  • treatment logs on skin types 1-4 along with the initial condition before and the results after treatment. (To ensure confidentiality, when you submit the patient treatment records please de-identify them by completely blacking out the patient name and give a brief explanation of the treatment/procedure and what laser was used and the outcome.)

Physicians

If you value your laser technician in your practice and do not want to lose them and their talents/revenue generated for your practice, please write a letter addressed to the licensure committee on their behalf and copy to your local Senator and Governor.

Send this information directly to our lobby group –

Malady & Wooten LLP
Att: John Malady
604 North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

There is a significant amount of additional information forthcoming but this is our immediate priority.

Once you have mailed your information please, send us a message using our Facebook page (message button) so we can keep track of our cumulative response to stay abreast of the volume. We are working to form a committee to communicate information so we are all synchronized and linked with each other. Thank you in advance for your efforts and support of all our business' future.

www.facebook.com/PaLaserLawCoalition