Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 654: An Act amending the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery Law, in pharmaceutical assistance for the elderly, further providing for the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier.

HB 654 amends Pennsylvania's State Lottery Law to expand access to the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET). It raises the income eligibility thresholds for seniors: single individuals with annual incomes between $14,500 and $45,000, and married couples with combined incomes between $17,700 and $55,000, will now qualify. The bill also allows applicants to round income amounts to the nearest whole dollar when reporting. This change directly affects Pennsylvania seniors who rely on PACENET for subsidized prescription drugs by making the program available to more low-to-moderate-income elderly residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmaceutical assistance access for seniors by raising income eligibility thresholds and simplifying income reporting, directly increasing coverage for elderly medication needs.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1245: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Health and its departmental administrative and advisory boards, providing for pelvic floor dysfunction education.

HB 1245 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to partner with healthcare providers - including obstetricians, gynecologists, urologists, and community health centers - to educate individuals about pelvic floor dysfunction and related conditions. The Department must create and distribute accessible informational materials (both online and in print) to people identified by healthcare providers as experiencing or at risk for these conditions, with specific focus on postpartum women. These materials must cover symptoms, treatments, biological processes, and include a recommendation for postpartum pelvic floor assessments. The bill adds this educational duty to the Department's existing responsibilities under the 1929 Administrative Code, without altering current healthcare services or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health department to partner with providers on pelvic floor dysfunction education, creating accessible materials for at-risk populations including postpartum women, advancing public health outreach.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Sep 10, 2025

SB 114: An Act amending the act of June 9, 1997 (P.L.169, No.14), known as the Nurse Aide Resident Abuse Prevention Training Act, providing for training for long-term care, for criteria for nurse aides and for limitation on department.

SB 114 updates Pennsylvania's Nurse Aide Resident Abuse Prevention Training Act to strengthen training standards for nurse aides working in long-term care facilities. It requires the state department to develop a specific long-term care curriculum, set qualifications for instructors (including RN supervision and facility experience), and establish a train-the-trainer program. The bill also creates three pathways to become a certified nurse aide, including completing approved training with a competency exam (offering remote written testing options), graduating from nursing programs, or meeting equivalent requirements. Additionally, it prohibits the department from imposing waiting periods before online training can be offered in approved programs. These changes directly affect nurse aides, long-term care facilities, and training programs across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens nurse aide training standards to prevent resident abuse in long-term care, enhancing patient safety and care quality per bill's focus on curriculum development and certification pathways.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 785: An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing cause of action for antitrust conduct, for indirect purchaser recovery under State antitrust laws and for premerger notice of health care mergers and transactions; and imposing penalties.

Pennsylvania's SB 785 establishes new antitrust rules to promote fair competition, primarily affecting health care providers, insurers, and health systems. The bill creates a legal right for both businesses and consumers (including indirect purchasers like patients) to sue for antitrust violations and requires health care entities to notify the state before merging or acquiring other health care businesses. It prohibits monopolistic practices, mandates divestiture of assets if mergers harm competition, and imposes fines of at least $100,000 per violation. The law aims to prevent anti-competitive behavior in health care markets while allowing private lawsuits and state enforcement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes fair competition in healthcare mergers, prohibits monopolistic practices, and protects consumers (indirect purchasers) via antitrust enforcement, strengthening healthcare market integrity.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HB 668: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

HB 668 would allow Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact, an existing agreement between states. This would let licensed counselors from other participating states practice in Pennsylvania more easily, and allow Pennsylvania counselors to practice in those states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill's key mechanism is adopting the standard compact form, creating a streamlined process for cross-state counseling licensure without changing existing state licensing requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines cross-state counseling licensure, improving access to mental health services without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 31, 2025

SB 957: An Act providing for patient election for donation and use of autologous blood; providing for disclosure of vaccination status in blood transfusions and requiring informed consent; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

SB 957, the Blood Transparency and Patient Rights Act, gives patients the right to choose their own stored blood (autologous donation) or blood from designated donors (directed donation) for transfusions. It requires hospitals and blood providers to disclose the vaccination status of blood donors to patients upon request and include this information in informed consent forms before transfusions. The law applies to all patients receiving blood transfusions in Pennsylvania medical facilities, with exceptions only in life-threatening emergencies where consent cannot be obtained. The Department of Health must create regulations for standardized consent forms and public education about these options, effective 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGives patients choice in blood transfusions and requires disclosure of donor vaccination status for informed consent, strengthening patient rights in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 161: An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted receipts accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in support of the professional licensure boards assigned thereto.

SB 161 allocates funds to support the operations of several professional licensing boards and commissions in Pennsylvania for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025. It provides $72,812,000 from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account to the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which oversees various professional licenses. Additionally, the bill earmarks specific amounts from dedicated accounts for the State Board of Medicine, State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, State Board of Podiatry, and the State Athletic Commission. These funds are intended to cover the operational costs of these bodies, which regulate professionals in their respective fields.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $72.8M from dedicated accounts to fund professional licensing boards' operations, advancing state budget appropriations for essential government services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds State Board of Medicine licensing board, supporting medical professionals' regulatory process essential for healthcare delivery.80% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 24, 2025

SB 940: An Act requiring lactation rooms in Commonwealth buildings; and imposing duties on Department of General Services.

SB 940 requires all Commonwealth buildings (state-owned or leased government offices) to provide private lactation rooms for individuals expressing breastmilk or nursing. These rooms must be at least 80 square feet, fully private with locking doors, and include a chair, table, electrical outlet, and ADA-compliant accessibility. The bill directly affects state employees and visitors who need to express breastmilk while at work, aligning with federal workplace accommodations under the Affordable Care Act. It mandates specific design standards to ensure privacy and functionality, without requiring additional amenities beyond the core specifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires lactation rooms in state buildings, supporting maternal health access and aligning with federal healthcare accommodations under ACA.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires private lactation rooms for nursing employees in state buildings, enhancing workplace accommodations and aligning with federal worker protections under the Affordable Care Act.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 23, 2025

HB 1756: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, further providing for electricity supplied to certain organizations.

HB 1756 allows volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads, ambulance services, and senior citizen centers in Pennsylvania to apply for electricity rates matching residential service costs instead of commercial rates. To qualify, these organizations must sign a one-year contract with their utility provider. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public Utilities code (Title 66) to require utilities to offer this rate option upon request. This change directly affects eligible nonprofit organizations by potentially lowering their electricity costs through simplified rate access. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows nonprofits to pay residential electricity rates instead of commercial, reducing operational costs and providing fiscal relief for essential community services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces operational costs for ambulance services and senior centers - healthcare-related nonprofits - by enabling residential electricity rates, indirectly supporting service accessibility and affordability.85% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 200: An Act establishing family and medical leave benefits, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Account and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Grant Program; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This bill would create a state-funded paid family and medical leave program for eligible workers needing time off for health issues, childbirth, or family care. It establishes a dedicated state fund to cover leave costs, creates an advisory board to guide implementation, and assigns oversight to the Department of Labor. The program would directly affect employees in the state who qualify for these leave types, requiring employers to provide the benefits. The bill also specifies penalties for businesses failing to comply with the new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program requiring dedicated budget appropriations for paid family leave, advancing government spending on essential worker benefits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-funded paid leave for health issues, improving access to healthcare services without income loss for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-funded paid family/medical leave program expanding worker benefits, requiring employer provision of leave for health/childbirth/family care, directly strengthening employment protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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