Healthcare (Hospitals)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 475: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for dialysis centers.

HB 475 amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to establish staffing requirements for dialysis centers. It mandates that all dialysis facilities - whether hospital-owned, Commonwealth-run, or independent - must maintain at least one trained dialysis caregiver for every four patients receiving active treatment. The bill defines "dialysis caregiver" to include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and dialysis technicians, who must provide direct care during hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease. This requirement applies to both inpatient and outpatient settings and directly affects all dialysis centers operating under Pennsylvania licensing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 1:4 staffing ratio for dialysis centers requiring trained caregivers (nurses, technicians), improving patient safety and care quality per Health Care Facilities Act amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 15, 2025

HB 1469: 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 prohibition on collection action of debt against patients for noncompliant hospitals.

House Bill 1469 amends the Health Care Facilities Act to establish requirements for hospital price transparency. It mandates that hospitals publish a comprehensive list of their standard charges for all items and services on their public websites in a readable digital format. This list must include gross charges, discounted cash prices, and various negotiated rates with third-party payors. The bill also provides for a prohibition on debt collection action against patients by hospitals that do not comply with these requirements, aiming to give patients clearer access to pricing information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital price transparency and prohibits debt collection against patients, improving access and protecting patient rights under healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 58: An Act establishing the Medicaid Care Transition Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services.

SB 58 establishes the Medicaid Care Transition Program to address delays in moving Medicaid patients from emergency departments to appropriate post-acute care settings. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees stuck in emergency departments, hospitals, and county Medicaid managed care plans (as "responsible entities"). Key provisions require responsible entities to create care transition units that work with hospitals to secure placements within 24 hours (or seek out-of-network options if needed), and notify the Department of Human Services if placement fails after 48 hours. The Department must then convene teams to resolve barriers, collect data, and submit annual reports to legislative committees on program effectiveness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid Care Transition Program to reduce ER wait times for post-acute care, improving patient access and system efficiency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 1548: An Act authorizing the State Workers' Insurance Board to make available health insurance policies for purchase by the general public; providing for premiums; and authorizing a loan from the State Workers' Insurance Fund.

HB 1548 authorizes Pennsylvania's State Workers' Insurance Board to sell health insurance policies directly to the general public, not just state workers. The program must include minimum coverage for inpatient/outpatient hospital care, emergency services, preventive care, and basic medical services like doctor visits, physical therapy, and lab tests. The Board may borrow up to 40% of the State Workers' Insurance Fund’s annual balance to cover claims and administrative costs, with premiums partially funding loan repayments. This program will begin on January 1, 2026, offering a new public option for health insurance in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes public health insurance access with mandatory minimum coverage (hospital, emergency, preventive care), expanding coverage options beyond state workers to general public.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Primary Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 320: An Act prohibiting for-profit entities from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in this Commonwealth.

SB 320 bans for-profit companies (including corporations, private equity firms, and investment banks) from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania. It would prevent new for-profit ownership but allows existing for-profit hospitals and health systems to continue operating as they are. The law defines "for-profit entity" broadly and exempts current owners as of the law's effective date. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no new for-profit acquisitions permitted after that date. This directly affects current and future hospital ownership structures in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans for-profit hospital ownership to prevent profit-driven decisions, strengthening public healthcare access and protecting patient rights from commercialization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1055: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of intimidation of health care workers.

HB 1055 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for threatening healthcare workers, specifically targeting threats intended to interfere with their duties. It defines the crime as knowingly making oral/written threats against healthcare practitioners, technicians, or hospital security officers, with penalties escalating from a minor violation for a first offense to a third-degree misdemeanor for repeat offenses. The law requires healthcare facilities to post clear notices about this offense at all public entrances, and a person cannot be convicted if the notice wasn’t displayed (unless they knew about the offense). This bill directly affects anyone making threats against covered healthcare workers in Pennsylvania, aiming to protect them from intimidation during work.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense for threatening healthcare workers with escalating penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare workers from intimidation, ensuring uninterrupted services and safety, directly aligns with safeguarding medical professionals under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Hospitals

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 79: An Act establishing requirements for hospital-based financial assistance; providing for hospital-based financial assistance forms, for information about hospital-based financial assistance programs and for reporting of hospital-based financial assistance policies; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

HB 79 requires hospitals to establish clear financial assistance programs for patients who cannot afford care, including standardized forms and easily accessible information about eligibility and coverage. It mandates that hospitals publicly share details about their financial aid policies and report their program rules to the Department of Health. These requirements directly affect hospitals operating in the state and patients seeking financial help with medical bills. The bill aims to standardize and increase transparency in hospital financial aid offerings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals to establish clear financial assistance programs for uninsured patients, improving access to care and transparency in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 3, 2025

HB 444: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, providing for coverage for postacute neurorehabilitation.

HB 444 requires most health insurance policies covering hospital or medical/surgical services to include coverage for postacute neurorehabilitation following an acquired brain injury. This includes specific therapies like cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral treatment, and community reintegration services, with no arbitrary limits on the number of covered days if medically necessary. Insurers must verify providers are accredited through recognized programs (e.g., Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and cannot apply stricter deductibles or copays than other covered benefits. The requirement does not apply to policies like dental, vision, workers’ compensation, or accident-only coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for postacute neurorehabilitation without arbitrary limits, expanding patient access to necessary care for brain injury recovery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 790: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for hospital emergency abortion services.

HB 790 requires Pennsylvania hospitals with emergency departments to provide abortion services when an individual has an emergency medical condition that necessitates an abortion to stabilize their health. This applies to all hospitals in the state with emergency departments, directly affecting those facilities and the patients seeking emergency care. The bill defines "emergency medical condition" to include life-threatening situations like ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, or complications from pregnancy loss, requiring hospitals to offer the service unless the patient or their legal representative refuses after being informed of risks and benefits. Hospitals must take reasonable steps to secure written consent for refusal to ensure compliance. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates abortion services in emergency medical conditions, expanding patient access to critical care per defined health emergencies like ectopic pregnancy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 322: An Act providing for approval from the Department of Health and the Office of Attorney General before certain transactions involving health care entities within this Commonwealth.

SB 322 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health and Attorney General to approve certain healthcare transactions exceeding $5 million that may harm public interest. It applies to sales, ownership changes, or large capital distributions involving hospitals, clinics, or healthcare providers. The law defines "against public interest" as actions reducing competition, raising costs, limiting access (especially in rural or low-income communities), or lowering care quality. Approval must be secured before such transactions proceed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires state approval for large healthcare transactions to prevent reduced competition, higher costs, limited access, and lower quality, protecting public health interests.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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