Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 104: A Resolution recognizing the month of May 2025 as "National Mammography Month" in Pennsylvania.

SR 104 is a resolution that recognizes May 2025 as "National Mammography Month" in Pennsylvania. It encourages residents, especially those in high-risk groups, to schedule mammography appointments to promote early detection of breast cancer.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEncourages mammography screenings for early breast cancer detection, promoting preventive healthcare access and public health awareness within the healthcare topic.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1491: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system, further providing for declaration of policy, for definitions, for emergency medical services system programs and for duties of department; establishing the State EMS Advisory Board; and further providing for emergency medical services patient care reports, for funding, for notification of trauma center closure, for State Advisory Board, for regional emergency medical services councils, for comprehensive plan, for contracts and grants and for scholarships for recruitment, training and retention.

HB 1491 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health commissioner to continually assess and revise emergency medical services (EMS) agency functions to improve service quality, adapt to community needs, and boost recruitment/retention of EMS providers. It establishes a State EMS Advisory Board to advise on system improvements and updates definitions for key EMS roles and entities. The bill directly affects EMS agencies, providers, and the Department of Health by mandating ongoing system reviews and creating a formal advisory structure. Key provisions include requiring the commissioner to address recruitment challenges and ensure EMS systems meet evolving community demands.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates ongoing EMS system reviews, recruitment/retention boosts, and establishes advisory board to strengthen emergency medical services quality and access.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBoosts EMS provider recruitment/retention through mandated system reviews and advisory board, directly strengthening workforce retention in labor sector.95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 25, 2025

SB 978: 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 coverage of allergenic protein dietary supplements.

SB 978 requires Pennsylvania health insurers to cover early allergen introduction dietary supplements (for peanut or egg protein) prescribed to infants under one year old at no additional cost to the insured. This directly affects infants with food allergy risks and their families covered by health insurance policies, excluding dental, vision, or limited-benefit plans. The law mandates coverage for medically prescribed supplements designed to reduce food allergy development, aligning with clinical guidance for early introduction. It applies to health insurance policies issued or renewed 60 days after the law's effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage of allergy-prevention supplements for infants, expanding access to preventive healthcare without cost-sharing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 356: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention and providing for violence prevention and social inclusion.

HB 356 requires Pennsylvania public and private schools serving grades 6-12 to provide annual, evidence-based training on youth suicide awareness and prevention (at least one hour per school year), along with violence prevention training (also one hour annually). For grades K-12, schools must also offer social inclusion training (one hour yearly) focused on identifying social isolation and building peer connections. The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop and publish a list of approved, no-cost training materials within one year of the law's effective date. These requirements apply directly to all school entities in the state, mandating specific content for students and staff on mental health, violence prevention, and social inclusion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual suicide prevention, violence prevention, and social inclusion training for K-12 schools, enhancing student support programs and well-being initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school-based suicide prevention training (mental health focus) and social inclusion programs, directly supporting mental health services under public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 886: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of evidence, providing for protection of reproductive health services records.

SB 886 would protect patient records related to reproductive health services (including pregnancy care, contraception, and abortion) in Pennsylvania by requiring healthcare providers to obtain written consent before sharing such records in court, investigations, or other proceedings. It directly affects patients receiving these services and healthcare providers (referred to as "covered entities" in the bill). Key provisions include a general consent requirement for disclosure, with exceptions for court orders, legal defense, abuse investigations, or child/senior abuse reports. The law does not override existing privacy rules for other medical information or mental health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient privacy for reproductive health services (pregnancy care, contraception, abortion) by requiring consent before record disclosure, advancing patient rights in healthcare.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires written consent for disclosure of reproductive health records, directly protecting patient data privacy - a core aspect of technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 24, 2025

HB 1000: An Act amending the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for State Board of Psychology and for powers of the board; providing for prescription certificate, for prescribing and administrative practices and for controlled substances; and further providing for refusal, suspension or revocation of license, for reporting of multiple licensure and for penalties and injunctions against unlawful practice.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows psychologists to prescribe medications including controlled substances, expanding mental health service access and provider scope under defined conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1848: 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 coverage for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy; and establishing the Children's Therapies Medical Assistance Savings Account.

HB 1848 requires casualty insurance policies to cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for injury-related care. This directly affects insured individuals, particularly families with children needing these therapies for accidents or injuries. The bill also establishes a state-administered Children's Therapies Medical Assistance Savings Account to help families pay for therapy costs not covered by insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires casualty insurance to cover physical/occupational/speech therapy for injury care and creates a state savings account for uncovered costs, expanding access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 30, 2025

HB 1901: An Act providing for the Office of Health Equity; establishing the Health Equity Advisory Committee; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

HB 1901 creates a new Office of Health Equity within the state Department of Health and establishes a Health Equity Advisory Committee. The bill requires the Department of Health to implement specific health equity initiatives and report on progress to the legislature. It directly affects the Department of Health, its staff, and public health programs by mandating new duties focused on reducing health disparities. The legislation aims to structure state efforts to address inequities in healthcare access and outcomes across the population.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Office of Health Equity and mandates health equity initiatives to reduce disparities, directly advancing healthcare access and addressing inequities in public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HR 24: A Resolution designating January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to recognize all the women who die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth.

House Resolution 24 designates January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to honor women who have died from pregnancy or childbirth complications. The resolution aims to raise public and healthcare awareness about maternal mortality, particularly highlighting racial disparities where Black women in Pennsylvania face a maternal mortality rate of 163 deaths per 100,000 live births - over twice the rate of other groups. It does not create new laws or funding but encourages community and healthcare engagement through designated awareness activities. This symbolic gesture aligns with Pennsylvania’s existing Maternal Mortality Review Committee efforts established under Act 24 of 2018.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDesignates Maternal Health Awareness Day to address racial disparities in maternal mortality, raising public awareness to improve healthcare outcomes and highlight systemic issues in maternal care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1254: An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in health care, further providing for applicability, for definitions, for criminal penalties, for definitions, for orders, bracelets and necklaces, for revocation, for absence of order, bracelet or necklace and for emergency medical services, repealing provisions relating to advisory committee and providing for discontinuance and for Pennsylvania orders for life-sustaining treatment; and making an editorial change.

HB 1254 clarifies and updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding advance health care directives, specifically strengthening the legal framework for "Pennsylvania orders for life-sustaining treatment" (POLST) and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. The bill adds criminal penalties for falsifying, forging, or tampering with these documents, or for concealing a patient's revocation of them. It also specifies that emergency medical services must follow valid POLST or DNR orders when present, providing standard care only when no such order exists. This directly affects patients with advance directives, their families, and health care providers who must comply with these legal documents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens legal protections for patient advance directives (POLST/DNR) by adding criminal penalties for falsification, ensuring EMS follows valid orders, thus protecting patient rights in healthcare decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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