Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 1289: An Act providing for patient access to clear health care information; and requiring plain-language summaries of coverage, prior authorization and appeal rights.

This bill, known as the Patient Right-to-Understand Act, requires health care entities in Pennsylvania to provide patients with clear, plain-language summaries of their insurance coverage, prior authorization rules, and appeal rights. These summaries must be written at a sixth-grade reading level, limited to two pages, and include details on costs, network restrictions, and payment options like cash pricing or health savings accounts. The law also mandates that providers clearly distinguish between what insurance covers and medical decisions made solely between a patient and their doctor. As an enforcement measure, health care entities that fail to comply with these disclosure requirements are prohibited from collecting debts from patients who dispute the care they received.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to clear health information and protects patient rights by mandating plain-language summaries of coverage and appeal rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 1283: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of evidence, further providing for subpoena of records.

This bill updates Pennsylvania law to clarify and adjust the fees health care providers can charge when releasing medical records via subpoena. It establishes specific rates for searching, retrieving, and copying records, including a cap of $200 for electronic copies, while allowing annual adjustments based on inflation. The legislation applies to health care facilities and their designated agents who must comply with legal requests for patient charts. By setting these standardized costs, the bill aims to ensure transparency and limit unauthorized additional charges for record retrieval.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill standardizes and caps fees for medical record releases, protecting patient access to health information and reducing administrative barriers.80% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2026

HR 471: A Resolution designating the month of April 2026 as "Esophageal Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.

This Pennsylvania legislative resolution designates April 2026 as Esophageal Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month to highlight the disease's severity and promote public health awareness. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania residents by encouraging them to seek treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to reduce their risk of developing esophageal cancer. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal declaration to raise awareness about early detection and prevention strategies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes public health awareness and encourages early detection of esophageal cancer, aligning with healthcare support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 1304: An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in liability and compensation, further providing for computation of benefits.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to increase the maximum burial expense benefit for workers who die on the job. Currently capped at $7,000, the reimbursement amount for funeral costs will be raised to $20,000, which will be paid directly to the funeral home by the employer or their insurance provider. The change applies to all deceased workers regardless of whether they have dependents and ensures this payment is not reduced by any other compensation or medical expenses already received. The new provision takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases funeral expense benefits for deceased workers, providing greater financial support for end-of-life care and reducing financial burden on families.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases funeral benefit cap from $7k to $20k, directly expanding worker benefits and protecting families of deceased employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 524: A Resolution recognizing June 2, 2026, as "Cancer Action Day" in Pennsylvania.

This bill is a non-binding resolution that officially designates June 2, 2026, as "Cancer Action Day" in Pennsylvania to raise awareness about the state's high cancer rates. It highlights statistics on cancer diagnoses and deaths in the Commonwealth while noting disparities in access to care for various communities. The resolution urges lawmakers to support future legislation aimed at improving cancer prevention, detection, and treatment services. As a commemorative measure, the bill does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves to honor those affected by cancer and advocate for improved health outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill raises awareness of cancer disparities and urges future legislation to improve prevention, detection, and treatment services.75% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 4, 2026

HB 2476: An Act amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to update the definition of "out-of-pocket loss" for reimbursement purposes. It directly affects crime victims by expanding the list of eligible expenses to include costs for medical and nonmedical care, prosthetics, cleaning crime scenes, and temporary relocation for victims and their household pets. The legislation also clarifies that "common household pets" refers to domesticated animals kept for pleasure rather than commercial use. These changes ensure victims can receive financial support for a broader range of necessary costs incurred due to criminal incidents, while explicitly excluding property damage and pain and suffering from this specific reimbursement category.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpanding victim compensation for medical, cleaning, and relocation costs strengthens the Crime Victims Act and supports restorative justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands reimbursement for medical care and prosthetics for crime victims, directly increasing access to healthcare benefits.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 2393: An Act amending the act of September 30, 1983 (P.L.160, No.39), known as the Public Official Compensation Law, further providing for the compensation of members of the General Assembly.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public Official Compensation Law to establish health insurance benefits for members of the House of Representatives. The legislation defines these benefits to include medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, and long-term care coverage, which the state will pay for on behalf of the representative and their eligible dependents. Coverage is limited to the time a member serves in office and includes a specific period between legislative sessions if the representative is reelected. The changes apply only to House members elected after the law takes effect, which is set for 60 days from its passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes health insurance benefits for state representatives, expanding coverage for medical, dental, and other services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 2456: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for payments for extraordinary personal care services.

This bill proposes allowing Pennsylvania to pay for special personal care services provided by a family member to a recipient of Medical Assistance. To make this possible, the state would need to request permission from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover these costs. The law specifies that the state cannot begin paying for these services until it receives approval from the federal government. The changes would take effect 180 days after the bill is signed into law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands health coverage by enabling state funding for personal care services provided by family members to Medical Assistance recipients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 29, 2026

HR 529: A Resolution designating the week of September 20 through 27, 2026, as "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research and Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania to increase awareness and understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to support improved diagnosis and treatment.

This House Resolution designates the week of September 20 through 27, 2026, as "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research and Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. The bill aims to raise public understanding of this lung disease, which causes irreversible scarring and affects thousands of residents in the state. By officially recognizing this specific time period, the resolution encourages increased attention and support for improved diagnosis and treatment efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes awareness and support for improved diagnosis and treatment of a specific lung disease.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 1305: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system, providing for dementia care training.

This bill requires Emergency Medical Services providers in Pennsylvania to complete specific training on caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The legislation mandates an initial three-hour course covering communication strategies, behavioral management, and recognizing signs of elder abuse, along with an annual one-hour continuing education requirement. The Department of Health will develop this curriculum in partnership with the Department of Aging, and providers who fail to meet these training standards may face certification sanctions. Additionally, the law includes a provision allowing providers who completed similar training within 18 months of the bill's effective date to waive the initial course requirement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates dementia care training for EMS providers to improve patient care quality and safety.95% confidence

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