Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 2241: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for hospital price transparency and for medical office price transparency.

HB 2241 requires Pennsylvania hospitals and medical offices to publish standard charges for services online in a readable digital format and provide printed copies upon request. It mandates that hospitals list all standard charges - including gross charges, negotiated rates with insurers, and discounted cash prices - for every item or service, including both inpatient and outpatient care. The bill specifically requires a simplified, consumer-friendly list of "shoppable services" (like elective procedures patients can schedule in advance) alongside the full charge list. This applies directly to all hospitals operating under Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act, aiming to help patients compare costs before receiving care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital/office price transparency for all services, improving patient access to cost information and enabling informed healthcare decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 1194: An Act requiring health care facilities to provide autologous blood transfusions and direct allogeneic blood transfusions to individuals under certain circumstances.

SB 1194 requires Pennsylvania health care facilities (like hospitals and clinics) to allow patients to receive autologous blood transfusions (using their own stored blood) or direct allogeneic blood transfusions (using blood donated specifically for them) before certain medical procedures. Patients must notify the facility at least 72 hours in advance and, for direct allogeneic transfusions, provide a list of eligible blood donors. The law aims to reduce reliance on standard donor blood, which carries risks like allergic reactions or infection transmission. It applies to all licensed health care facilities and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires facilities to provide patient-preferred blood transfusion options, enhancing access and patient rights in healthcare services.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 5, 2026

HB 2254: An Act amending the act of April 17, 2016 (P.L.84, No.16), known as the Medical Marijuana Act, providing for compassionate access to medical marijuana; and imposing a penalty.

HB 2254 adds Chapter 14 to Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana within specific care facilities (like hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living residences) under strict conditions. Facilities must create written guidelines within 180 days covering safe storage, patient safety, allowed forms of marijuana, and documentation. The bill imposes a $500 daily civil penalty for noncompliance, with penalties deposited into the Medical Marijuana Program Fund. It does not require facilities to provide certifications, administer marijuana, or permit use in emergency departments. This directly affects terminally ill patients seeking access in regulated care settings and facilities operating under the existing medical marijuana program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables terminally ill patients access to medical marijuana in healthcare facilities, expanding treatment options within regulated care settings per bill's compassionate access provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2253: An Act requiring school life support coaches in Pennsylvania high schools; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and school districts.

HB 2253 requires Pennsylvania public high schools to hire school life support coaches to provide daily nonclinical emotional support to students. High-need schools (defined by factors like poverty rates, attendance issues, or dropout risk) must employ one coach for every 300 students, while other schools must have one for every 500 students. Coaches must hold specific educational qualifications (e.g., bachelor's degree with two years of experience), complete training in trauma-informed care and crisis response, and focus on mentorship and resource connection without providing therapy or diagnosis. The Department of Education will guide districts on equitable compensation, and coaches must refer students needing clinical services to licensed staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates hiring school life support coaches in high schools to provide emotional support, enhancing student mental health services and addressing school needs through specified student-to-coach ratios.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school life support coaches providing daily nonclinical emotional support with trauma-informed care training, directly advancing mental health services in schools as part of healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 1185: An Act amending the act of December 15, 1982 (P.L.1291, No.292), known as the Medicare Supplement Insurance Act, providing for annual open enrollment period; and abrogating a regulation.

SB 1185 creates an annual open enrollment period for Pennsylvania Medicare supplement insurance policyholders. Starting on each policyholder's birthday, insurers must offer a 90-day window during which individuals can switch to any comparable Medicare supplement policy without being denied coverage or charged more based on health status. Insurers must also notify policyholders 15-30 days before the enrollment period about dates, rights, and policy changes. This amendment modifies Pennsylvania's 1982 Medicare Supplement Insurance Act and replaces an inconsistent existing regulation. The bill directly affects Medicare supplement policyholders in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates annual open enrollment for Medicare supplements, allowing policyholders to switch plans without health-based denials or higher premiums, improving access and protecting patient rights in insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 2173: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, further providing for definitions, for respiratory therapists, for perfusionist, for genetic counselor and for prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists and orthotic fitters; providing for medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants and trainees; further providing for licenses and certificates and general qualification; repealing provisions relating to radiologic procedures and education and training required; and making a repeal.

HB 2173 updates Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act of 1985 by adding new definitions and licensing requirements for medical imaging professionals. It specifically creates licensing categories for roles like medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants, and trainees, defining their scope of practice (including modalities such as MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine). The bill removes outdated provisions about radiologic procedures and education requirements while establishing certification standards through recognized medical imaging certification organizations. This directly affects healthcare workers performing imaging procedures, requiring them to obtain board licenses based on their certified modalities. The changes clarify professional responsibilities and ensure consistent training standards for these healthcare roles.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates licensing for medical imaging professionals and defines scope of practice, standardizing care and ensuring qualified providers, strengthening regulatory framework for healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 1197: An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in health care, repealing provisions relating to pregnancy and further providing for execution, for requirements and options and for example; and making an editorial change.

SB 1197 repeals a Pennsylvania law requiring life-sustaining treatment for pregnant patients who are incapacitated, even if they had a living will or health care directive opposing such treatment. It removes specific medical conditions that would allow withholding treatment (like not supporting fetal development) and eliminates the requirement that the state pay for such care. The bill adds optional language to living wills and health care powers of attorney, allowing individuals to specify pregnancy-related health care decisions if diagnosed as pregnant. This change affects pregnant patients unable to make their own health care decisions and their designated health care agents. The bill makes no new requirements but removes existing pregnancy-specific rules from advance care planning documents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals requirement forcing life-sustaining treatment against patient's living will for pregnant patients, protecting patient autonomy and advance directive rights in healthcare decisions90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2235: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for Pennsylvania firefighter and emergency medical service provider recruitment and retention tax credit.

HB 2235 creates a nonrefundable Pennsylvania tax credit of up to $6,000 annually for qualified firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) providers. It directly affects individuals who are active volunteers or employees of career/volunteer fire companies, EMS companies, or rescue services as defined under Pennsylvania law. The credit applies to the year a person becomes qualified plus the next five consecutive tax years (2027-2031), and must be claimed on tax returns with proof of eligibility. The credit expires December 31, 2037, and cannot be carried over, sold, or transferred.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for firefighters/EMS, reducing their tax burden, aligning with tax relief for public service workers.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax credit for EMS providers (healthcare workers) to improve recruitment/retention, directly strengthening healthcare workforce stability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 2212: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for nondiscrimination by payers in health care benefit plans.

HB 2212 requires Pennsylvania health insurance companies and other health care payers (including health maintenance organizations and self-insured employers) to reimburse out-of-network medical facilities that meet specific criteria, such as having a four-star patient satisfaction rating, offering faster service than nearby in-network facilities, or being partially owned by physicians who are in-network with the payer. The bill mandates that payers use a "baseball-style arbitration" process for payment disputes, where an independent third party selects either the payer's or facility's proposed payment amount without modification. It defines key terms like "highest in-network rate" to standardize how payers determine fair reimbursement for services. This law directly affects health care benefit plans regulated under Pennsylvania insurance law, aiming to reduce discrimination against qualifying out-of-network providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer reimbursement for out-of-network facilities meeting quality/service criteria, improving patient access to care options beyond in-network restrictions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 1172: An Act making appropriations to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

SB 1172 provides $31.56 million for the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary activities and $1.793 million for its Center for Infectious Diseases for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill requires the university to maintain specific board composition (with four non-elected members appointed by legislative leaders) and report quarterly on fund usage. It mandates detailed financial reporting to the Department of Agriculture and Appropriations Committees, including how funds reduced costs for Pennsylvania resident students or provided services to Pennsylvania residents. These provisions ensure accountability for state-funded programs at the University of Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $33.35M in state appropriations to university programs, directly funding public services through budgetary means.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $33.353M for University of Pennsylvania's veterinary and infectious disease centers, directly funding higher education activities as defined in the topic.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds University of Pennsylvania's Center for Infectious Diseases ($1.793M), directly advancing public health programs under healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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