Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 17, 2025

SB 1067: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in epinephrine auto-injector entities, further providing for definitions and for epinephrine auto-injectors for authorized entities; and making an editorial change.

SB 1067 updates Pennsylvania law to allow schools, childcare centers, and other authorized public entities to keep epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPens) on hand for severe allergic reactions. It clarifies definitions of "authorized entities" and establishes procedures for these locations to stock, access, and use the devices without requiring individual prescriptions for each potential user. The bill directly affects facilities where people with allergies may be present, improving immediate response during emergencies. This change focuses on practical access to life-saving treatment in public settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows schools/childcare to stock EpiPens for immediate allergic reaction treatment, improving emergency access to critical healthcare without individual prescriptions.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1284: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in comprehensive health care for uninsured children, further providing for contracts and coverage packages and providing for frenectomy services required.

HB 1284 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law of 1921 to expand dental coverage for uninsured children. The bill requires that frenectomies and other surgical procedures to treat lip-ties or tongue-ties be included as part of the minimum emergency, preventive, and routine dental care package for eligible children. It also mandates that dental providers contracting with insurers for these services offer frenectomies as a covered routine dental service. This legislation directly affects uninsured children receiving care through state contracts and the dental providers who serve them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of frenectomy services in dental coverage for uninsured children, expanding insurance benefits under healthcare policy per bill summary.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 730: 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 emergency medical services, 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.

SB 730 amends Pennsylvania law regarding end-of-life medical decisions, affecting patients, their designated surrogates, and healthcare providers, including emergency medical services. The bill introduces and integrates "Pennsylvania orders for life-sustaining treatment" (POLST) into the existing framework, alongside advance health care directives and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate (OOH-DNR) orders. It updates definitions for various healthcare roles to align with current state law and modifies criminal penalties for actions like falsifying or interfering with these medical orders. Additionally, the bill clarifies the applicability of emergency medical services in situations without an OOH-DNR order and standardizes the issuance of OOH-DNR orders, bracelets, and necklaces by physicians.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes POLST to protect patient end-of-life wishes and improve healthcare coordination for life-sustaining treatment, aligning with patient rights and care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 226: An Act providing for the protection of patients and medical personnel from health care facility retaliation, for prohibitions, for rebuttable presumptions, for discriminatory treatment, for evidence, for civil penalties and remedies, for criminal penalty, for restitution and damages, for injunctive relief, for peer review activity and for exemption.

HB 226, the Protection of Patients and Medical Personnel from Health Care Facility Retaliation Act, prohibits healthcare facilities from retaliating against patients or medical personnel who file complaints, report issues, or participate in investigations. It creates rebuttable presumptions that negative actions (like discharge or demotion) taken within 120 days of a complaint by medical staff or 180 days for patients are retaliatory unless proven otherwise. Violators face civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, potential license suspension, and criminal misdemeanor charges for willful violations, with remedies including reinstatement, lost wages, and legal costs for affected individuals. The law directly affects patients, healthcare workers, and facilities operating under Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits healthcare facility retaliation against patients/staff reporting issues, creating rebuttable presumptions for retaliation within 120/180 days, directly protecting patient rights.95% confidence

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 12, 2026

SB 604: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

SB 604 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact, a multi-state agreement allowing licensed professional counselors to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects licensed counselors - especially those serving military families who relocate frequently - and their clients in member states. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, standardized disciplinary processes, and support for telehealth services to improve access to counseling. The compact eliminates the need for counselors to hold multiple state licenses while ensuring accountability under each state’s practice laws where the client is located.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for counselors, improving mental health access via mutual licensure and telehealth support95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 17, 2025

HR 124: A Resolution designating the month of September 2025 as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

This resolution designates September 2025 as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically raises public attention to prostate cancer, highlighting statistics like an estimated 13,000 new cases and 1,500 deaths in Pennsylvania during 2025. The resolution also urges Congress to support federal legislation (H.R. 1300) that would require health insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing for at-risk men. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to promote awareness and encourage preventive care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges support for H.R. 1300 requiring insurance coverage of prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing, expanding patient access to preventive care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SR 88: A Resolution recognizing the week of April 20 through 26, 2025, as "National Infertility Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 88 recognizes the week of April 20 through 26, 2025, as "National Infertility Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to raise awareness about infertility, which affects many couples, and support efforts to remove barriers to care and reduce stigma.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareResolution aims to raise infertility awareness and remove care barriers, supporting patient access to reproductive health services within healthcare framework.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 1656: An Act promoting indoor air quality in facilities housing or serving vulnerable populations; providing for tax credits, for certification programs, for public education and for data collection; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

HB 1656 requires facilities serving vulnerable populations (like nursing homes, shelters, or group homes) to improve indoor air quality through specific measures. It provides tax credits to help these facilities cover costs for air quality upgrades, establishes certification programs for facilities meeting standards, and funds public education campaigns about air quality benefits. The bill also mandates the Department of Health to collect data on indoor air quality conditions across these facilities. These provisions aim to create cleaner indoor environments for residents without specifying outcome predictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax credits to facilities for air quality upgrades, directly using tax policy to fund improvements and support vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates improved indoor air quality in facilities, reducing indoor pollution - a form of pollution control under environmental protection.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates indoor air quality improvements in healthcare facilities (nursing homes, shelters) serving vulnerable populations, providing tax credits and data collection to protect health outcomes - directly strengthens healthcare infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1283: An Act establishing the Integrated Student Supports Program and the Integrated Student Supports Fund; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 1283 establishes the Integrated Student Supports Program and Fund, aiming to enhance K-12 student academic success and increase graduation rates in Pennsylvania public schools by removing academic and nonacademic barriers. The Department of Education will designate a third-party nonprofit organization to provide evidence-based community school services, covering areas like mental health support, college and career preparation, and parental engagement. The bill allows the Department to award competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grants from the new fund to public school entities that develop strategic plans for implementing these integrated student supports. The designated organization will be required to submit annual reports on program outcomes, including graduation rates and student attendance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Integrated Student Supports Fund to provide evidence-based services (mental health, college prep) removing barriers and boosting K-12 academic success and graduation rates.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMental health support is explicitly listed as a covered service under the program, indicating funding and advancement of mental health services in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 732: An Act amending the act of April 17, 2016 (P.L.84, No.16), known as the Medical Marijuana Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in patients, further providing for prohibitions; in miscellaneous provisions, further providing for protections for patients and caregivers and providing for enforcement and civil actions; and promulgating regulations.

SB 732 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, updating provisions related to medical marijuana use in the workplace for certified patients, employers, and job applicants. The bill introduces specific definitions for "impaired," "under the influence," and "safety-sensitive positions" to clarify employment standards. It removes some prior blanket prohibitions on patients performing certain duties while under the influence and instead focuses on defined impairment and drug testing. Employers are permitted to require drug tests for safety-sensitive roles and make employment decisions based on test results or refusal to test.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies workplace protections for medical marijuana patients, removing blanket prohibitions and enhancing access to healthcare services under defined impairment standards.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves blanket prohibitions on medical marijuana patients in workplace, clarifies impairment standards, protecting workers from discrimination in employment90% confidence

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