HB 1000 amends the state's Professional Psychologists Practice Act to update rules for psychologists. It specifically allows licensed psychologists to obtain a prescription certificate for certain medications, including controlled substances, under defined conditions. The bill also revises procedures for the State Board of Psychology regarding license renewals, penalties for violations, and reporting requirements for multiple licenses. These changes directly affect licensed psychologists seeking prescribing authority and the board managing professional standards.
HB 695 requires health insurance plans to cover vaccinations administered on schedules chosen by parents or guardians that differ from CDC recommendations, provided at least one vaccine is given annually. It prohibits insurers from offering financial incentives to providers based on per-member vaccination rates. Health care practitioners must continue providing pediatric care for patients on non-CDC schedules and cannot bill for discussions about alternative schedules. Violations by practitioners could result in disciplinary action from their licensing board.
SB 421 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act to limit when physicians must disclose complaints filed against them. It requires the State Board of Medicine to close complaint files without disciplinary action before physicians are not required to share those complaints with patients or others. The bill applies directly to physicians (who gain privacy for closed, non-disciplinary complaints) and patients (who may not learn about such complaints). The policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1223 amends Pennsylvania's Podiatry Practice Act to remove a specific citizenship requirement from the application process for podiatry licenses. The bill deletes language requiring applicants to prove U.S. citizenship or intent to become a citizen, while keeping all other requirements intact (such as graduation from an accredited school, age, moral character, and residency). This change directly affects future applicants seeking podiatry licensure in Pennsylvania by simplifying one part of their application documentation. The amendment modifies Section 4 of the existing law without altering practice standards or patient care requirements.
HB 1224 removes a citizenship requirement from Pennsylvania's pharmacist licensing rules. The bill amends the 1961 Pharmacy Act to delete the phrase "and is a citizen of the United States" from the eligibility criteria for pharmacists. This change directly affects individuals applying for pharmacist licenses in Pennsylvania who previously needed U.S. citizenship. The key provision modifies Section 3(a)(1) of the Pharmacy Act to allow licensure based solely on age (21+) and other existing requirements, without requiring U.S. citizenship. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 739 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Professional Nursing Law to modernize terminology and clarify roles for advanced practice nurses. It replaces "certified registered nurse practitioner" with "APRN-CNP" throughout the law, defines "collaboration" requirements for new APRN-CNPs (requiring 3,600 practice hours before independent work), and updates definitions for "medical nutrition therapy" and "population focus areas." The bill explicitly removes the State Board of Nursing's authority to license APRN-CNPs, shifting that responsibility elsewhere. These changes directly affect registered nurses seeking advanced practice certification and the Board's regulatory role in nursing licensure.
SB 579 adds music therapy as a licensed profession under Pennsylvania's existing Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act. It requires individuals practicing music therapy to obtain a license to use the title "licensed professional music therapist" and defines the scope of practice, including clinical music interventions like improvisation and songwriting for therapeutic goals. The bill directly affects music therapists seeking to legally represent their credentials in Pennsylvania, while excluding students, supervised practitioners, and those not claiming to be licensed therapists. Key provisions clarify what constitutes "practice of music therapy" and establish the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Music Therapists to oversee licensing. This bill does not change employment requirements for government or nonprofit agencies.
HB 75 amends Pennsylvania's Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to update the definition of "primary supervising physician" to include medical doctors (MDs) licensed by the State Board of Medicine, alongside osteopathic physicians (DOs). This change allows physician assistants to have either an MD or a DO as their primary supervising physician under a written agreement, expanding oversight options beyond current restrictions. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment and does not alter other provisions of the law.
SB 883 prevents Pennsylvania licensing boards from disqualifying or disciplining healthcare professionals who provide reproductive health care services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, or abortion services. It specifically protects licensed providers (like doctors, nurses, or clinics) from penalties based on their provision of such services, or from disciplinary actions imposed in other states for the same services if they would have been lawful in Pennsylvania. The law amends state licensing statutes to prohibit these disciplinary actions, ensuring that licensed professionals cannot face licensure consequences for offering reproductive health care consistent with Pennsylvania standards. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1583 amends Pennsylvania's Physical Therapy Practice Act to clarify that a "certificate of authorization" is a board-approved certificate allowing physical therapists to practice without a referral under specific conditions. The bill updates definitions and related sections of the act to ensure consistent application of this provision. This change directly affects physical therapists and physical therapist assistants seeking licensure or certification in Pennsylvania by clarifying when a certificate of authorization may be used. The bill does not alter core licensure requirements but refines administrative language to improve clarity in practice standards.
