[naviga:h2]Senate bill expands practice by nurses[/naviga:h2]

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Senate is backing legislation to certify nurses to practice in areas of expertise and allow them to practice medicine independently of a physician’s supervision.

The bill passed 39-10 on Wednesday, and goes to the House, where a similar bill stalled last year.

Supporters say it’ll improve access to health care, particularly in rural areas.

The sponsor, Republican Sen. Camera Bartolotta of Washington County, says 22 states have passed similar laws. It is supported by the state’s hospital association and the AARP, but opposed by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

The medical society says there’s no track record that such laws expand rural health care.

[naviga:h2]United hikes payout for oversold seats[/naviga:h2]

DALLAS — United Airlines says it will raise the limit — to $10,000 — on payments to customers who give up seats on oversold flights and will increase training for employees as it deals with fallout from the video of a passenger being violently dragged from his seat.

United also is vowing to reduce, but not eliminate, overbooking — the selling of more tickets than there are seats on the plane.

The airline made the promises today as it released a report detailing mistakes that led to the April 9 incident on a United Express plane in Chicago.

The company also plans to send displaced passengers or crew members to nearby airports, putting them on other airlines or arranging for car transportation to get them to their destinations.