HB 911 provides health benefits for surviving family members of Pennsylvania law enforcement officers who die or become disabled in the line of duty. It guarantees surviving spouses lifetime full health coverage and dependent children full coverage until age 26 (if not covered by another employer plan). Municipalities must assist with claims processing, and benefits end at age 65. The bill applies to all full-time law enforcement officers and their families, including those widowed before the law's effective date. It codifies existing benefit standards under Pennsylvania law without creating new programs.
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Public Safety
HB 857 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services under Medicaid programs. It requires the state to pay ambulance providers the higher of either Medicare's 2023 rates or current Medicaid ambulance fees (as updated in 2023) for services provided to Medicaid enrollees starting January 1, 2024. For services where patients declined transport, new rates based on 2025 Medicare data or updated Medicaid fees will apply beginning July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed emergency medical services agencies that provide ambulance transport to Medicaid beneficiaries.
SB 594, the Complex Wheelchair Quality Assurance Act, requires health insurers and government programs (like Medicaid) to cover semiannual maintenance visits ("well-visits") for individuals using complex wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are defined as individually configured devices designed for specific medical needs, requiring specialized adjustments and evaluations. The bill mandates coverage for physical checks, adjustments, and telehealth options for these visits, along with annual notifications to users about their coverage. It also directs the Department of Human Services and Insurance Department to establish implementation rules within two years.
HB 565 creates a new tax credit for Pennsylvania employers who pay for their employees' health insurance. It allows businesses to reduce their state tax bill by up to 100% of their contributions toward employee health insurance premiums, but only the first $500 per employee counts toward the credit. The credit percentage decreases as the number of covered employees increases: 100% for fewer than 50 employees, 75% for 50-99 employees, and 50% for 100+ employees. Employers must submit specific employee and insurance provider details to the Department of Revenue to claim the credit, which cannot be carried over, refunded, or sold.
SB 301 requires Pennsylvania pharmacies to disclose specific pricing information to consumers upon request for prescription medications. This includes the current retail price for brand-name and generic drugs, the consumer's cost-sharing amount under their insurance, and details about subsidized health coverage through Pennsylvania's health insurance exchange. Pharmacies must keep records of this information, post clear notices about the disclosure right, and present details in simple terms. Failure to comply results in a $500 fine per violation. The law applies to all retail pharmacies and directly affects consumers making prescription purchasing decisions.
HB 1766 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to require employers to reimburse qualifying patients for medical marijuana costs under the state's Medical Marijuana Act. It mandates dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for eligible medical marijuana purchases, capped at $250 per month or $3,000 annually, with patients covering costs exceeding $250 monthly. Employers must establish a system for quarterly reimbursements and cover identification card fees for patients. This directly affects workers certified to use medical marijuana under Pennsylvania law who receive workers' compensation benefits. The provision applies specifically to reimbursement through workers' compensation claims, not to changes in medical marijuana eligibility or access.
HB 1881 updates Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to modernize requirements for pharmacy technicians and trainees, including new registration qualifications and supervision rules by licensed pharmacists. It adds specific protocols for pharmacies administering injectable medications, biologicals (like vaccines), and immunizations, while requiring detailed reports on vaccine administration. The bill also establishes new standards for clinical laboratory certificates and repeals outdated sections of the original 1961 law. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, trainees, and pharmacists who oversee vaccine and medication administration.
HB 1002 requires Pennsylvania public and private schools to notify parents or legal guardians when a student threatens suicide or is involved in bullying (as defined in state law). Schools must adopt a written policy for these notifications, keep records of each notification (exempt from public records requests), and provide parents with suicide prevention resources, including information on limiting access to firearms or medication. Students can request copies of their own records under this policy and, after graduating high school, ask for those records to be permanently removed. The bill takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
HB 1237 amends Pennsylvania law to expand problem-solving courts, such as drug, mental health, and veterans courts, in courts of common pleas. It allows these courts to be established using available funds and creates a Statewide Coordinator to help with funding, coordination, and evaluation of such programs. The bill also changes sentencing rules: for technical probation violations (like missing a meeting), courts must consider a defendant’s employment status and may allow up to 30 days of confinement to enter a problem-solving court. This directly affects defendants on probation who might be referred to treatment programs instead of jail, as well as the courts administering these programs. The law takes effect in 60 days.
SB 715 extends the expiration date of Pennsylvania's Rare Disease Advisory Council from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028. This procedural bill directly affects the council, which advises state departments on rare disease issues, and the departments it collaborates with (Health, Insurance, Human Services, Education). The key provision simply changes the expiration date in the 2017 law without altering the council's structure or duties. This extension provides continued operation of the council for an additional three years.
