Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 22, 2025

SB 935: An Act requiring health insurance policies to provide coverage for preexposure prophylaxis HIV medication.

SB 935 (the "PrEP for Pennsylvania Act") mandates that all health insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania must cover the cost of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV prevention medication. This directly affects insurance providers, who must include PrEP in standard coverage without moving it to a higher-cost specialty tier, and people who rely on insurance for HIV prevention. The law also prohibits requiring unnecessary specialist counseling to access PrEP. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for PrEP HIV prevention without cost-sharing or unnecessary barriers, expanding access to preventive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 695: An Act providing for vaccination schedule for pediatric patients and for coverage, compensation and reimbursement for vaccinations; and imposing penalties.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for non-CDC vaccination schedules, expands patient choice, prohibits financial incentives limiting provider options, and protects access to pediatric care on alternative schedules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 523: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to emergency management services, providing for health screenings for firefighters and EMS providers.

SB 523 requires full-time firefighters and EMS providers employed by fire departments or local governments in Pennsylvania to receive comprehensive cancer and cardiovascular screenings every three years. The screenings must cover specific conditions including prostate, lung, skin, and heart health checks, as listed in the bill. Employers must cover all associated costs - including copays, deductibles, and insurance expenses - through existing health benefits or insurance plans. This bill directly affects emergency responders working for public fire departments or municipal services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates employer-covered cancer/cardiovascular screenings for first responders, expanding preventive health access through required coverage of specific conditions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-covered cancer/cardiovascular screenings for firefighters/EMS, enhancing workplace safety for high-risk occupations95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 14, 2025

HB 1721: 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 medical assistance coverage for peer recovery support services.

HB 1721 adds medical assistance coverage under public assistance programs for peer recovery support services. This means individuals receiving state-funded public assistance (like Medicaid) would now have access to coverage for services provided by trained peers who have lived experience with recovery. The bill directly affects people seeking substance use disorder treatment through public assistance programs. It amends the Human Services Code to require coverage for these specific peer services, expanding available treatment options without changing existing eligibility rules. The bill is currently in the Human Services committee for review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds Medicaid coverage for peer recovery services in substance use treatment, expanding access to mental health support under public assistance programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2025

HB 1569: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program.

HB 1569 establishes a Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program within Pennsylvania's health and safety statutes. The program would temporarily test new approaches to tracking maternal health outcomes, directly affecting pregnant individuals and healthcare providers in participating communities. Key provisions include creating a structured data collection system to monitor maternal health metrics during pregnancy and postpartum, with the goal of identifying gaps in care. The pilot is designed to run for a limited time to evaluate effectiveness before potential broader implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes maternal health monitoring to identify care gaps and improve outcomes, advancing maternal healthcare services through structured data collection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Sep 4, 2025

SB 989: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for immunization coverage; and imposing penalties.

SB 989 would require health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover immunizations (such as vaccines) without out-of-pocket costs for policyholders. The bill applies to all health insurance providers operating in the state and mandates that they include immunization coverage in their plans. It also imposes penalties on insurers that fail to provide this coverage. This change would directly affect insurance companies and ensure Pennsylvanians with health insurance have guaranteed access to immunization services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost vaccine coverage in insurance plans, removing financial barriers and expanding access to preventive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 535: An Act amending the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, further providing for definitions and for genetic counselor.

SB 535 amends Pennsylvania's Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to clarify the role of genetic counselors. It adds a definition for "genetic test" (including DNA/RNA analysis and chromosome studies) and specifies that genetic counselors may order such tests, provide documentation, and coordinate care - but cannot diagnose, test, manage, or treat genetic conditions. The bill directly affects genetic counselors practicing within Pennsylvania's osteopathic medical framework. These changes aim to standardize terminology and practice boundaries without altering the scope of other medical professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies genetic counselors' scope to enable test ordering and care coordination, improving access to genetic services within healthcare framework.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 27, 2025

SB 69: An Act establishing Recovery-to-work as a pilot program within the Department of Labor and Industry; and providing for local recovery-to-work pilot programs, for incentives to encourage business participation and for powers and duties of the Department of Labor and Industry.

SB 69 establishes a temporary pilot program called "Recovery-to-work" within Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry to help individuals recovering from drug or alcohol substance use disorders gain employment. The program requires local workforce development boards to create local pilot initiatives focused on job training, career readiness skills, and recovery support services, partnering with businesses and treatment providers. Businesses that participate receive incentives, and the program leverages existing funds like the Opioid Settlement Account and Reemployment Fund. Local programs must include support services providers, secure business partner commitments, and target in-demand local jobs with industry-recognized credentials. The bill mandates annual reporting to evaluate effectiveness and ensure accountability.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncludes recovery support services for substance use disorders, integrating healthcare access with employment programs to advance treatment access.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSB 69 establishes a workforce development pilot program providing job training and recovery support for individuals with substance use disorders, directly advancing employment access through business incentives and departmental coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Workforce Development

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 24, 2025

SB 941: An Act requiring lactation rooms in courthouses.

SB 941 requires all Pennsylvania courthouses to provide private, accessible lactation rooms for nursing parents. These rooms must be at least 80 square feet, include a chair, electrical outlet, and privacy features (like locking doors), and comply with ADA accessibility standards. The bill directly affects nursing parents using courthouses for court-related matters, ensuring they have a hygienic space to express breast milk or nurse their child. Courthouses must post public signage indicating room locations, and rooms cannot be repurposed restrooms or storage areas. The law takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides necessary infrastructure for nursing parents' health access in public facilities, aligning with healthcare access and patient rights indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 1638: An Act ensuring reproductive freedom by preserving the anonymity of providers on prescription labels.

HB 1638 requires pharmacies and dispensers to display a provider's healthcare practice name instead of their personal name on prescription labels for mifepristone, misoprostol, or their generic alternatives. This applies to any licensed provider (including physicians or prescribers) who requests this change for reproductive medication prescriptions. The law mandates that dispensers comply with such requests, effectively shielding the provider's identity on the label. It takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient access to reproductive healthcare by shielding provider identity on prescription labels, advancing privacy and reducing barriers to care.90% confidence

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