Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 14, 2025

HB 1733: 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 exemption from licensure examination, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restriction on use of title "licensed professional art therapist" and related titles; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal, records and fees and for unlawful practice.

HB 1733 adds art therapy to Pennsylvania's regulated health professions by creating specific licensure requirements for "licensed professional art therapists" and "licensed associate art therapists." It defines "art therapy" as a clinical practice using art-based techniques to address mental health needs, requiring therapists to meet education standards from accredited institutions. The bill restricts the use of the title "licensed professional art therapist" to those holding a valid license, while "licensed associate art therapists" must work under supervision and cannot practice independently. This directly affects art therapists seeking to legally use the title or provide services in Pennsylvania, establishing new standards for training, supervision, and scope of practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes licensure requirements for art therapists, a mental health profession, ensuring qualified practitioners and protecting public safety in mental health services, thus supporting mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 10, 2025

HB 1790: 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, establishing the Future Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

HB 1790 establishes a grant program to provide financial assistance to students training to become licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will administer the program, managing applications and disbursements of funds. This bill amends the state's Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act to create this new funding opportunity. The program directly benefits students in these mental health professions by helping offset education costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes grants for mental health professional training, increasing workforce capacity and access to care under healthcare-related professions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 52: An Act providing for health care insurance coverage protections, for duties of the Insurance Department and the Insurance Commissioner, for regulations, for enforcement and for penalties.

This bill bans health insurers in Pennsylvania from setting annual or lifetime dollar limits on essential medical services (like hospital care, surgery, and emergency treatment), affecting both in-network and out-of-network providers. It applies to individual and group health insurance policies, directly protecting enrollees from coverage caps on core benefits. Insurers must comply with these limits, with enforcement including fines up to $5,000 per violation. The law takes effect for policies filed with the Insurance Department after its effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans annual/lifetime coverage limits on essential services (hospital, surgery, emergency care), protecting enrollees from caps with enforcement fines.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans insurance coverage caps on essential medical services, directly protecting workers' health benefits under employment standards as core employment benefits are covered.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 361: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for Collaborative Care Model and Primary Care Behavioral Health Model Implementation Program.

HB 361 amends Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to create a grant program supporting integrated behavioral health care in primary care settings. It provides funding for primary care physicians and practices to cover initial costs of implementing two evidence-based models: the Collaborative Care Model (with psychiatric consultants and care managers) and the Primary Care Behavioral Health Model (with behavioral health professionals on-site). Grants can be used for hiring staff, contracting specialists, purchasing software, and building patient registries, with priority given to rural providers and practices in counties with high suicide or overdose rates. The bill also establishes six regional technical assistance centers to support implementation across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded grant program for behavioral health integration in primary care, increasing public service funding per Fiscal Code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates grant program funding integrated behavioral health models in primary care, directly supporting mental health services through staff hiring and specialist contracts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Mental Health Primary Care Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1648: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for definitions and providing for mental health days.

HB 1648 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish "mental health days" as an excused absence for students, directly affecting public, nonpublic, and private school students. Schools must adopt policies by the 2026-2027 school year allowing up to two consecutive days off for mental or physical fatigue due to mental health-related stressors, whether certified (like anxiety) or uncertified (like bullying or family trauma). The bill prohibits more than three mental health days in a week or two consecutive weeks, except as permitted by school policies. The state Department of Education will develop model guidelines within 90 days to help schools implement these policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mental health days as excused absences, directly improving student access to education by addressing mental health barriers without penalizing attendance.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health days as excused absences, enabling student access to mental health care without academic penalty, directly supporting mental health services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 2024: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further providing for accreditation.

This bill (HB 2024) requires Pennsylvania's Office of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs to create a mandatory training program for county veterans affairs directors. The program must cover specific topics like trauma-informed care, military sexual trauma, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, developed in collaboration with the State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. It directly affects county-level veterans' service staff who assist veterans across Pennsylvania. The training program becomes effective 180 days after the bill's passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates training on PTSD, trauma, and mental health for veterans' staff, directly strengthening mental health services for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates trauma-informed care training for veterans' service staff on PTSD, military sexual trauma, and TBI, directly enhancing service quality for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 561: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Nonnarcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to establishment of pilot program, providing for establishment and further providing for county participation requirements, for use of grant funding, for powers and duties of department, for report to General Assembly and for construction; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; and making an editorial change.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's pilot program for non-narcotic medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in prisons and parole settings. It removes outdated rules about the program's establishment, clarifies requirements for county participation, and specifies how grant funds can be used for treatment services. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency gains new duties to oversee the program, and the bill includes administrative updates to the state statutes governing it. The changes directly affect counties administering the pilot program and individuals in prison or parole under the MAT initiative.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates prison MAT pilot program to enhance rehabilitation services, supporting criminal justice reform by improving substance abuse treatment in corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates MAT grant program for substance abuse treatment in prisons, clarifies funding for healthcare services, advancing access to evidence-based care within correctional healthcare system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2025

SB 466: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for powers and duties and for curriculum, training and education certification management system; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants to fire companies and for award of grants to emergency medical services companies and providing for expiration of authority; and making a repeal.

SB 466 modifies Pennsylvania's fire and emergency medical services (EMS) grant programs and training requirements. It requires semiannual reports on grant recipients (including recipient names, amounts, and purposes) for federal disaster, homeland security, and public health funds, submitted to legislative leaders. The bill updates training standards to allow online/lecture/hands-on formats and integrates records into a certification system, while setting a 45-day application window and 60-day approval timeline for grants to fire and EMS companies. Crucially, it sets an expiration date of December 31, 2029, for the grant authority under these programs. The bill was enacted as Act No. 25 of 2025 on June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modifies EMS grant programs and requires reporting on public health funds, strengthening emergency medical services infrastructure and accountability within healthcare system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Tags Public Safety

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SB 274: An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for alternative sentencing for primary caretakers and further providing for contents of presentence report; and, in medical services, establishing the Maternity Medical Services Program; and making editorial changes.

SB 274 creates two key programs in Pennsylvania law. First, it requires courts to offer non-prison sentencing options for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses who are primary caretakers of dependent children (including pregnant women or new mothers), mandating community-based rehabilitation programs like parenting classes, job training, or mental health services instead of incarceration. Second, it establishes a Maternity Medical Services Program within correctional facilities, providing pregnancy and postpartum care for eligible incarcerated women at a reduced fee (with no denial of care due to inability to pay). The bill directly affects incarcerated parents, particularly mothers, by prioritizing family unity and maternal health. It amends sentencing procedures and medical services statutes to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates non-prison sentencing for primary caretakers of nonviolent offenses, replacing incarceration with community rehabilitation programs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSB 274 establishes a Maternity Medical Services Program in correctional facilities, directly providing medical services for pregnant women and new mothers, improving healthcare access within prisons.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 358: An Act amending the act of November 24, 2004 (P.L.1270, No.153), referred to as the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System Law, establishing the Pennsylvania Green Alert System; and further providing for immunity.

SB 358 creates Pennsylvania's Green Alert System, a new program to help locate missing veterans at risk due to service-connected health issues. The system requires the Pennsylvania State Police, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to activate alerts when law enforcement confirms a missing veteran has physical or mental health conditions (like PTSD, TBI, or substance use disorders) related to military service. It expands existing immunity protections to cover people assisting during Green Alert notifications, similar to current Amber Alert and MEPAS rules. This directly affects veterans with military-related health risks, law enforcement agencies requesting alerts, and the public receiving notifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes Green Alert System for missing veterans with service-connected health issues (PTSD, TBI, substance use), directly supporting mental health services through rapid response protocols.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates Green Alert System specifically for missing veterans with service-connected health issues (PTSD, TBI), requiring state police to activate alerts in consultation with veterans affairs department.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Mental Health

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