Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 23, 2025

SB 959: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in uniform health insurance claim form, further providing for forms for health insurance claims.

SB 959 requires Pennsylvania insurance companies to use a standardized health insurance claim form developed by the Department of Insurance within 180 days. This uniform form must be used by all insurers, the state's public health programs, and healthcare providers within 120 days of its creation, though dental and vision claims may use the form at the insurer's discretion. The bill also mandates that insurers allow direct payment to dental providers when a patient authorizes it (a provision set to expire after 10 years) and requires a study on the impact of this payment rule. The Legislative Budget Committee must report on network participation changes within 36 months of the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStandardizes insurance claims forms and mandates direct dental payments, reducing administrative barriers and improving provider access to reimbursement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 570: An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for End of Life Options Act; imposing duties on the Department of Health; and imposing penalties.

SB 570 would create Pennsylvania's "End of Life Options Act," allowing terminally ill residents (18+ with an incurable illness expected to cause death within six months) to request medication to end their life. To qualify, patients must receive confirmation of terminal illness from two doctors, make two oral requests 15 days apart, submit a written request, and be deemed capable of making an informed decision. Patients retain the right to rescind their request at any time without restriction. The bill also requires documentation, counseling referrals, and reporting, but it remains pending in the Judiciary Committee and is not yet law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient autonomy in end-of-life care by enabling physician-assisted dying under strict medical protocols, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 676: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the First Responder Resilience Grant Program and the First Responder Resilience Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

HB 676 establishes the First Responder Resilience Grant Program to help first responder organizations (like police, fire, and emergency medical services) cover costs for embedding mental health resilience coaches. The program provides competitive grants to defray salaries and overtime for these coaches, who deliver evidence-based support such as stress reduction, peer mentoring, and suicide prevention services. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will administer the program and manage the dedicated First Responder Resilience Grant Fund. This bill directly affects first responder organizations by enabling them to access funding for mental wellness support tailored to the unique stressors of their work.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health resilience coaches for first responders via competitive grants, directly supporting mental health services as defined in the topic description.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds mental health resilience coaches for first responders, improving workplace safety and well-being through evidence-based stress reduction and suicide prevention services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 8, 2025

HB 26: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 35 (Health and Safety) and 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; and imposing penalties.

HB 26 removes Pennsylvania’s existing abortion statutes (including the "Abortion Control Act" and its restrictions like parental consent, spousal notice, and gestational limits) and replaces them with a new framework focused on "reproductive rights." It repeals specific provisions related to medical consultation, informed consent, facility requirements, and reporting, while adding language affirming reproductive rights for patients and providers. The bill also eliminates references to federal healthcare compliance for insurers and updates terminology, changing the chapter heading from "Abortion" to "Reproductive Offenses." This bill directly affects all abortion providers, patients, and public health systems in Pennsylvania by fundamentally restructuring the legal landscape governing abortion access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves abortion restrictions (parental consent, gestational limits), replacing them with 'reproductive rights' framework to improve access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 1068: An Act providing for licensure of family members to provide skilled care to designated children, for applications for licensure, for qualifications for licensure, for employment and compensation of licensed family members, for limitations and supervision of licensed family members, for notice to parents of recipients and for authorization of covered skilled care.

HB 1068 creates a licensing program allowing family members (such as parents, grandparents, or adult siblings) to provide Medicaid-covered skilled care to children with medical needs. To qualify, applicants must complete training, pass background checks, and meet state nursing standards. The bill requires Medicaid agencies to cover the cost of training and licensure renewal, and it mandates that licensed family caregivers receive compensation for services like skilled monitoring. This directly affects Medicaid recipients (children under 21 with diagnosed conditions) and their eligible family caregivers, with oversight by the State Board of Nursing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid-covered skilled care access by licensing family caregivers, requiring Medicaid to fund training/licensure, and mandating compensation for services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medical Licensing

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 30, 2025

HB 1100: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for waiver to purchase diapers or menstrual hygiene products.

HB 1100 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to allow public assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers and menstrual hygiene products through a new waiver program. This directly affects low-income individuals and families enrolled in public assistance programs who currently cannot use their benefits for these essential items. The key provision adds diapers and menstrual hygiene products to the list of eligible purchases under an administrative waiver, changing the existing code to expand access to basic necessities. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but creates a new pathway for purchasing specific hygiene products. It passed the legislature in June 2025 and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee for implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands essential hygiene access under public assistance, directly supporting health outcomes for low-income individuals by covering menstrual/diaper products via benefit waiver.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 8, 2025

HB 1435: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for payments for extraordinary personal care services.

HB 1435 directs the Department of Human Services to seek federal approval to allow payments for specific personal care services. These services would be provided by legally responsible relatives to individuals who receive Medical Assistance. The bill specifies that these payments can only be implemented if the federal government grants a waiver. Additionally, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is required to study the costs of implementing any approved waiver and report its findings within three years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medical Assistance coverage by enabling payments for personal care services provided by relatives, requiring federal waiver approval to improve access to care under public health program.92% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 25, 2025

SB 981: 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.

SB 981 amends Pennsylvania's licensing law for social work and therapy professions to specifically regulate "Licensed Recreational Therapists." It defines recreational therapy practice (including 15 methods like assessment, treatment planning, and community integration) and requires a license for anyone using the title "Licensed Recreational Therapist." Unlike other licensed professions under this law, recreational therapists must hold a license for employment by the state, local governments, or nonprofit agencies. The bill also updates the State Board composition to include one licensed recreational therapist member.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates recreational therapists requiring licenses to ensure qualified practitioners provide healthcare services, aligning with mental health service quality and patient safety standards.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 195: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for Mental Health Workforce Retention Program; and making an appropriation.

HB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M annually from General Fund for mental health workforce grants, exempts grants from income tax, funding essential public service and providing tax relief per bill's appropriation and tax exemption language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $5,000 tax-exempt grants to mental health workers for retention, directly funding workforce stability under Mental Health Workforce Retention Program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides $5,000 retention grants to mental health workers with tax exemption, directly supporting workforce stability and employment in a specific sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SB 268: 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, providing for cost-sharing calculation.

SB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish rules for calculating health insurance cost-sharing. It requires insurers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to include all out-of-pocket payments made by insured individuals (or others on their behalf) when determining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles or copays. The law applies to health insurance policies issued, renewed, or entered into after its effective date, but excludes dental, vision, workers' compensation, and similar coverage types. This change directly affects health insurers, PBMs, and policyholders by standardizing how cost-sharing is calculated under health plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to include all out-of-pocket payments in cost-sharing calculations, reducing patient financial burden and protecting patient rights under health insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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