Healthcare

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 The bill removes outdated provisions about radiologic procedures and education requirements while establishing certification standards through recognized medical imaging certification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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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2168: An Act amending the act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.1372, No.212), known as the Early Intervention Services System Act, in Statewide system for provision of early intervention services, further providing for administration by Department of Education.

HB 2168 amends Pennsylvania's Early Intervention Services System Act to clarify how state funds support early intervention services for children in private special education schools. It specifies that for children not eligible for public kindergarten programs, the state covers the full cost of their services, while for children eligible for public kindergarten, the state covers only the extra cost (above what public schools would pay). This change ensures funding aligns with each child's eligibility for public school services. The bill directly affects children receiving early intervention services and the Department of Education's budgeting for these programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies state funding for early intervention services in private special ed schools, ensuring full/partial coverage based on eligibility to strengthen educational access for children.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies state funding for early intervention healthcare services, ensuring full coverage for ineligible children and partial coverage for eligible ones, strengthening access to medical support for children.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 1147: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for emergency transportation services.

SB 1147 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services under Medicaid programs (Fee-for-Service, Capitation, and Community HealthChoices). It requires reimbursement for every loaded mile based on the higher of 2023 Medicare ambulance rates or current Medicaid fees, effective January 1, 2024. For cases where patients refused transport, it sets new rates starting July 1, 2025, using 2025 Medicare rates or updated Medicaid fees. The bill applies retroactively to July 1, 2025, directly affecting licensed ambulance providers serving Medicaid enrollees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulance services to higher Medicare rates, ensuring adequate funding and access to emergency transport under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2174: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in enforcement, providing for use of automated license plate reader information prohibited.

HB 2174 prohibits Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies from sharing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with any federal, state, or local government agency if that data would be used to enforce laws interfering with access to medically accurate information or evidence-based medical services. Before sharing ALPR data, agencies must obtain a written declaration from the receiving agency confirming they will not use it in violation of this prohibition. The bill also requires ALPR information to be kept confidential and defines key terms like "medically accurate" (supported by peer-reviewed research or medical guidelines) and "evidence-based" (aligned with clinical standards and patient needs). This directly affects law enforcement agencies and government entities seeking to use ALPR data for medical-related enforcement actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement data sharing to protect medical access rights, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits sharing ALPR data that could enforce laws restricting access to medically accurate care, protecting patient access to evidence-based services.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits sharing ALPR data to prevent misuse in enforcing laws affecting medical access, strengthening data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2158: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for schedules of controlled substances.

HB 2158 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act by adding specific kratom-related compounds to Schedule I, the most restrictive category for controlled substances. The bill prohibits possession, sale, or distribution of any product containing 7-hydroxymitragynine at 2% or more of total alkaloids, or synthetic versions of kratom alkaloids like mitragynine. This change directly affects businesses selling kratom products and individuals who use such substances, making them illegal without medical authorization. The policy change aligns with existing Schedule I criteria of high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding kratom compounds to Schedule I, increasing legal restrictions on possession/sale under controlled substances law.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits kratom products (used for pain/mental health alternatives) by classifying them as Schedule I, restricting access to substances some rely on for health management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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