Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SB 196: An Act amending the act of July 15, 2004 (P.L.731, No.85), known as the Elderly Immunization Act, further providing for definitions; and making editorial changes.

SB 196 amends Pennsylvania's Elderly Immunization Act to update eligibility criteria for free flu and pneumonia vaccines. It changes the definition of "eligible person" to include individuals aged 50 or older for influenza vaccination (previously 65+) and 65 or older for pneumococcal vaccination. The bill clarifies who qualifies for existing state-funded immunization programs without creating new requirements or funding. It directly affects elderly and high-risk Pennsylvania residents seeking these preventative vaccines through the state's current program. The changes are primarily editorial and definitional, with no new program provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free flu vaccine access to 50+ (previously 65+) under state immunization program, improving elderly healthcare access without new funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 836: An Act protecting an individual's choice to use assisted reproductive technology.

HB 836 prohibits Pennsylvania from interfering with the use of medically appropriate assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), ensuring individuals can access these services without state restrictions. The bill defines ART to include specific fertility procedures and requires that any new state laws must comply with this protection unless explicitly exempted by the legislature. It takes effect immediately, providing direct safeguards for individuals seeking ART services and healthcare providers offering them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) services like IVF, ensuring patients can obtain fertility treatments without state restrictions, advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 1117: 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 Drug and Alcohol Programs, further providing for powers and duties.

HB 1117 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to redefine the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs' responsibilities for addressing substance use disorders. The department must now develop a comprehensive State plan coordinating prevention, treatment, research, and education across all state agencies and local communities - including health, law enforcement, education, and workforce sectors - to avoid duplication. The plan requires annual review and updates, and mandates the department to provide assistance to local governments while collaborating with medical professionals on drug use guidelines. This change formalizes existing coordination efforts under a unified framework, directly affecting state agencies and local entities managing substance use disorder services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates coordinated treatment/prevention across law enforcement and health sectors, aligning with reform indicators by reducing criminalization of substance use through rehabilitation focus.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coordinated state plan for substance use disorder treatment across health sectors, advancing public health services and reducing service duplication.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 12, 2025

HB 749: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance, further providing for uniformity in administration of assistance and regulations as to assistance and for copayments for subsidized child care, providing for report on transition to chip-enabled access cards, further providing for reports to General Assembly, for persons eligible for medical assistance and for nonemergency medical transportation services and providing for abrogation of regulatory requirements for payment for outpatient behavioral health services within physical confines of behavioral health clinic facilities and for SNAP benefit reporting; and making a repeal.

HB 749 updates Pennsylvania's public welfare laws to streamline assistance programs and improve service access. It requires copayments for subsidized child care, changes reporting for SNAP benefits, and mandates reports on transitioning to chip-enabled access cards for benefits. The bill removes regulatory barriers for outpatient behavioral health services provided within clinic facilities, allowing services to be billed as part of the clinic visit. It also requires additional reports to the General Assembly regarding medical assistance eligibility and nonemergency medical transportation services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves regulatory barriers for outpatient behavioral health services within clinics, enabling streamlined billing and access to mental health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Primary Care

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 18, 2025

HB 1043: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for definitions, for possession and use of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, for school access to emergency epinephrine and for administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by school bus drivers and school crossing guards.

HB 1043 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to expand access to emergency allergy and asthma treatments in schools. The bill specifically allows school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to possess, use, and administer epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPens) and asthma inhalers for students in medical emergencies. It updates definitions and procedures to ensure authorized personnel can act quickly during allergic reactions or asthma attacks without requiring individual physician orders each time. This directly affects students with life-threatening allergies or asthma and school staff who may need to provide immediate care.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands emergency medical access for students in schools, ensuring safety during asthma/allergy reactions, directly supporting student educational access and safety.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands emergency allergy/asthma treatment access in schools for students, allowing staff to administer EpiPens without individual prescriptions, improving immediate healthcare access during emergencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 83: An Act amending the act of February 13, 1970 (P.L.19, No.10), entitled "An act enabling certain minors to consent to medical, dental and health services, declaring consent unnecessary under certain circumstances," further providing for mental health treatment and for liability for rendering services; and providing for applicability.

This bill (HB 83) amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to allow minors aged 16 to 18 to consent independently to mental health treatment (both inpatient and outpatient) without parental permission. It establishes clear rules for when minors or parents can revoke consent and requires courts to hold a hearing within 72 hours if a minor objects to continued treatment, with strict criteria for overriding their wishes. The law explicitly excludes minors with "special needs" (defined as intellectual disabilities with adaptive limitations) from these provisions. It applies specifically to mental health services, not general medical care, and clarifies liability for providers who rely on a minor's consent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access for minors (16-18) by allowing independent consent without parental permission, protecting patient rights and strengthening mental health services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 21, 2025

SB 475: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in sentencing, further providing for modification or revocation of order of probation.

SB 475 creates a framework for Pennsylvania courts to establish specialized "problem-solving" treatment courts (including veterans, drug, mental health, and DUI courts) and modifies probation rules. It allows courts to create "veterans tracks" within existing treatment programs and requires judges to consider a defendant's employment status when sentencing for technical probation violations. The bill specifically permits up to 30 days of incarceration to allow defendants to enter treatment courts instead of imposing full sentences for technical probation violations. This directly affects Pennsylvania courts, probation officers, and individuals on probation who commit minor violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specialized treatment courts (veterans, drug, mental health) to address root causes, reduces punitive probation violations by considering employment, and aligns with rehabilitation-focused reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mental health courts as specialized treatment programs, redirecting defendants to healthcare-focused interventions instead of incarceration, directly supporting mental health services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates veterans treatment courts within problem-solving programs, enabling access to services instead of incarceration, directly supporting veteran needs through judicial system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1179: An Act providing for privacy, transparency and compensation regarding the disclosure of information collected by genetic material testing entities.

HB 1179, the Genetic Materials Privacy and Compensation Act, requires genetic testing entities (including medical facilities, genealogy services, and law enforcement) to clearly disclose to individuals what genetic data they collect, how it may be used, and with which third parties it will be shared. The bill mandates "prominent disclosure" in plain language before data collection, prohibiting misleading claims about data privacy or usage. It specifically requires testing entities to obtain explicit consent before sharing genetic material with third parties. The law directly affects individuals using genetic tests and the companies providing those services, focusing on transparency rather than compensation mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to disclose genetic data practices, promoting transparency and protecting privacy rights in criminal investigations.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transparency and protection for genetic data collected during healthcare services (medical facilities), directly advancing patient privacy rights in healthcare data handling.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates clear disclosure and consent for genetic data collection, strengthening consumer data privacy protections under technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 670: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in abortion, providing for access to reproductive health services facilities; in particular rights and immunities, providing for action for blocking access to reproductive health services facility; and imposing penalties.

HB 670 would protect access to abortion clinics in Pennsylvania by creating a legal right for people to enter reproductive health services facilities and allowing lawsuits against individuals or entities that block access. It amends criminal and judicial statutes to define "blocking access" as a violation and imposes penalties for such actions. The bill directly affects patients seeking abortion care, clinic staff, and anyone attempting to obstruct facility access. Key provisions include enabling civil lawsuits for damages and establishing specific criminal penalties for interference with facility access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects access to abortion clinics (a healthcare service) by creating legal rights and penalties for blocking access, directly improving patient access to reproductive health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2025

HB 1393: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; providing for paid family and medical leave tax credit; and establishing the Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Program.

House Bill 1393 establishes the Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Program, offering a state tax credit to businesses that provide paid family and medical leave to their employees. This credit is available to business firms in the Commonwealth that have already received the federal family and medical leave tax credit. To qualify, businesses must apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development, providing proof of their federal credit, with the state credit matching the federal amount received. The total amount of these state tax credits is capped at $100,000,000 annually, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot exceed a business's tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state tax credit for businesses providing paid leave, reducing their tax burden as part of tax credit program under Tax Reform Code.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for businesses offering paid medical leave, enabling employees to access healthcare without income loss, improving patient access.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates tax credit for businesses offering paid family/medical leave, expanding worker benefits through state incentive matching federal program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Paid Leave

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