Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 752: 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.

SB 752 requires Pennsylvania hospitals to publicly disclose standardized pricing for services in a clear, online format. Hospitals must list gross charges, negotiated rates with insurers, discounted cash prices, and billing codes for all services - especially "shoppable" outpatient procedures - on their websites and provide printed copies upon request. The law prohibits hospitals from pursuing debt collection from patients if they fail to comply with these transparency rules. This directly affects hospitals (requiring new reporting duties) and patients (providing clearer cost information before care). The policy aims to increase price visibility without mandating specific pricing structures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to disclose pricing transparency, protects patients from debt collection for noncompliant hospitals, enhancing access and patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 268: 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 the medically needy and determination of eligibility.

HB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to require that individuals determined eligible for home- and community-based waiver services must be offered those benefits within 90 days of eligibility determination. The bill directly affects Pennsylvanians applying for medically needy assistance through home-care waiver programs. Its key provision (Section 442.1(d)) establishes a strict 90-day timeline for offering waiver benefits after eligibility is confirmed, aiming to streamline access to community-based care. This is a procedural change to eligibility processing, not a new benefit or funding measure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires 90-day timeline for offering home-care waiver benefits, improving patient access to medically needy assistance programs per Section 442.1(d).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 707: An Act amending the act of July 8, 2007 (P.L.90, No.28), known as the Freedom to Breastfeed Act, providing for accommodation for breastfeeding in Commonwealth-owned buildings; and imposing duties on the Department of General Services.

HB 707 amends Pennsylvania's Freedom to Breastfeed Act to require all Commonwealth-owned buildings (like state offices, courthouses, and the State Museum) to provide dedicated nursing parent rooms. These rooms must be at least 50 square feet, lockable, accessible, and include essentials like a chair, work surface, sink, refrigerator, and privacy. The Department of General Services must install signage, maintain a public online list of room locations, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. This directly affects employees and the public using state buildings who need to breastfeed or express milk.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates nursing rooms in state buildings, improving access to breastfeeding support - a public health initiative protecting maternal/infant healthcare access.95% confidence

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 433: 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, further providing for coverage for mammographic examinations and breast imaging.

HB 433 requires health insurance plans to cover mammograms and breast imaging services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for policyholders. It directly affects women needing preventive breast cancer screenings and the insurance companies providing health coverage. The bill amends Pennsylvania’s 1921 Insurance Company Law to mandate this coverage for mammographic examinations and breast imaging under casualty insurance policies. This policy change ensures these essential preventive services are fully covered at no additional cost to patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for mammograms/breast imaging under insurance, removing financial barriers to preventive cancer screenings per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

failed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 49: An Act establishing the Cannabis Control Board; providing for powers and duties of the Cannabis Control Board; establishing the Cannabis Regulation Fund; providing for permits and for dispensing cannabis to patients and caregivers; and making repeals.

SB 49 establishes Pennsylvania's Cannabis Control Board to regulate medical cannabis, replacing the prior oversight structure under the 2016 Medical Marijuana Act. The board will manage permits for cannabis organizations (including warehousing, distribution, and transport), oversee dispensing to registered medical patients and caregivers, and administer a Cannabis Regulation Fund. Key provisions include defining cannabis products (excluding industrial hemp), setting THC limits, and requiring board meetings and public records. This bill directly affects medical cannabis organizations, patients, and caregivers by creating a centralized regulatory system for their operations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables medical cannabis access for patients and caregivers, improving treatment options under healthcare services per bill's dispensing provisions.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 656: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for administration of emergency anti-seizure medication.

HB 656 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication during seizures when a nurse is unavailable. It directly affects students with epilepsy in public schools who have been prescribed such medication, requiring parental request and adherence to approved training guidelines. The bill establishes that non-nurse staff may provide emergency assistance only after completing designated training and following protocols approved by the Department of Education. It specifies that nasal spray or similar FDA-approved treatments may be used, while ensuring students' rights under disability laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act are upheld. The policy change is voluntary for staff and requires schools to notify parents about potential accommodations under 504 plans or IEPs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures student safety during seizures in schools, enabling continued educational access for epilepsy patients via trained staff protocols under Public School Code.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication for students with epilepsy, improving access to critical healthcare services in schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 16, 2025

SB 1059: An Act providing for paid leave time for a pregnancy loss or related reason.

SB 1059 would require employers to provide paid leave for employees experiencing a pregnancy loss, such as miscarriage or stillbirth, or related medical reasons. This bill would directly affect workers in the state who have a pregnancy loss by allowing them to take time off work with pay for this specific health event. The key provision establishes a new paid leave entitlement separate from existing family or medical leave policies. The bill was referred to the Labor & Industry committee on October 16, 2025, for further review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for pregnancy loss (medical condition), improving access to time off for healthcare needs without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides new paid leave benefit for pregnancy loss, expanding worker protections and benefits beyond existing policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 680: An Act amending the act of July 17, 2024 (P.L.846, No.74), known as the Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act, further providing for definitions.

SB 680 amends the existing Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act by expanding its definition of "health care practitioner." This bill specifically adds speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists to the list of professionals covered by the act. The original act prohibits the enforcement of certain noncompete agreements for health care practitioners. Therefore, these newly included professionals would also fall under the protections against such noncompete covenants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for additional healthcare practitioners by removing noncompete barriers, improving access to care for patients.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands noncompete protections to speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and others under existing healthcare worker protections, advancing workers' rights by preventing restrictive agreements.95% confidence

Track

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 507: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts; reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for its composition, powers and duties; providing for the issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and revocation of licenses and certificates; provided penalties; and making repeals," further providing for definitions, for midwifery and for nurse-midwife license; and providing for certified midwife license.

SB 507 amends Pennsylvania's medical licensing law to reestablish the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and update its structure. It directly affects midwifery professionals by creating three new license categories: midwifery, nurse-midwife, and certified midwife. The bill establishes specific requirements and definitions for these licenses under the board's authority. This change clarifies licensing pathways for midwifery practitioners within the state's medical regulatory framework. The bill passed final passage on October 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates three new midwifery license categories (midwifery, nurse-midwife, certified midwife) to clarify licensing pathways, improving access to midwifery healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1853: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for legislative intent, for definitions, for license required, for State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, for powers and functions of board, for qualifications for license, for procedures for licensing, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Recreational Therapist"; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal and records and fees and for unlawful practice.

HB 1853 amends Pennsylvania's licensing law for social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. It updates definitions, licensing procedures, and board powers while adding a specific restriction: it prohibits the use of the title "Licensed Recreational Therapist" for professionals not meeting the defined standards for these licensed roles. The bill directly affects current license holders and applicants in these specific mental health professions within Pennsylvania. Key provisions include clarifying board functions, licensing requirements, out-of-state license endorsement rules, and adding penalties for unauthorized title use.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures mental health professionals meet licensing standards, preventing misuse of titles and protecting patient safety in mental health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track