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.
SB 872 replaces Pennsylvania’s temporary "Nonnarcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program" with a permanent "Medication-Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Program" administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The bill requires counties with correctional facilities offering substance abuse treatment to apply for grants, enabling them to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combined with counseling to eligible offenders both during incarceration and after release. Key provisions mandate county assessments to identify suitable candidates, individualized treatment plans, access to MAT, and coordination with probation/parole, while requiring biennial reports to the legislature on program effectiveness. The law prioritizes nonnarcotic MAT funding and prohibits using grant money to replace existing programs.
Senate Bill 675 amends The Administrative Code of 1929, adding new powers and duties for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. This bill requires inpatient treatment facilities to develop a discharge transportation plan for each patient upon admission or within 72 hours. The plan must detail the patient's transportation from the facility to an initial destination after discharge. It must also include the names of authorized individuals or a public/third-party service for pickup and the initial drop-off address. Facilities are prohibited from releasing a patient who does not have such a discharge transportation plan.
SB 865 requires emergency departments in Pennsylvania hospitals to test patient urine samples for fentanyl, medetomidine, and xylazine when conducting drug screenings for diagnosis, provided such testing is available. It mandates reporting positive results (meeting department-set thresholds) to the Department of Health, with deidentified data used for awareness efforts. The bill also creates a new requirement for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to develop educational materials about the dangers of human medetomidine use - highlighting its veterinary origins, health effects, and how to discuss risks with others. These provisions directly affect emergency departments, patients receiving screenings, and residents through public health education. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1192 establishes a "Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program" within Pennsylvania's minor courts, targeting mothers involved in the criminal justice system who require substance abuse or mental health treatment. The bill requires the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to create guidelines within six months for identifying eligible mothers, addressing their specific needs, and collecting data on program outcomes. Counties implementing the program must track participant referrals, charges, outcomes, and report annually - without personally identifiable information - to a public website. This pilot program, initially limited to minor courts, aims to provide court-supervised treatment alternatives rather than standard criminal penalties for qualifying mothers.
HB 1280 requires pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees in Pennsylvania to complete annual medication error prevention training. The training covers key topics like medication categories, overdose management, proper storage, and the "six principles" of medication administration (correct drug, dose, person, time, method, and documentation). Participants must score at least 80% on an exam and demonstrate knowledge of medication names, purposes, side effects, and special instructions to receive certification. New pharmacists licensed in Pennsylvania for less than five years must complete this training twice yearly until they meet the five-year threshold.
SB 1022 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to clarify definitions related to drug overdose medication. It specifically defines terms for medications like naloxone used to reverse overdoses, ensuring healthcare providers and pharmacists have clear legal guidance. The bill directly affects medical professionals who administer or distribute overdose reversal treatments. This procedural amendment updates existing law without creating new programs or funding.
SB 522 provides funding and support for integrating mental health services into primary care settings across Pennsylvania. It allocates grants to primary care physicians and practices to cover initial costs of implementing collaborative care models (like hiring staff, upgrading technology, and creating patient tracking systems), with priority for rural clinics and areas with high suicide or overdose rates. The bill also establishes regional technical assistance centers to help practices develop staffing models, integrate tools into electronic records, and navigate billing. These provisions directly affect primary care providers statewide, aiming to improve access to behavioral health services through existing medical settings.
HB 2060 requires Pennsylvania's Medicaid program and private commercial insurers to provide equal coverage for non-opioid and opioid medications used to treat pain. It prohibits insurers from designating non-opioid pain drugs as "non-preferred" when opioids are preferred, imposing stricter prior authorization requirements on non-opioids, or placing non-opioids in higher-cost tiers than opioids. The law applies immediately to any FDA-approved pain medication, affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and private insurance customers across Pennsylvania. This policy change ensures that patients have equal access to both non-opioid and opioid treatment options without discriminatory coverage barriers.
SB 691 establishes the Nonnarcotic Medication Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program within Pennsylvania's Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. This program provides grants to local agencies, known as single county authorities, to offer comprehensive nonnarcotic medication-assisted treatment to offenders with substance use disorders. Eligible providers will assess offenders receiving various court-imposed sentences for drug-related offenses and offer individualized treatment plans, including FDA-approved nonnarcotic medication and counseling. The bill also allows courts to order substance use disorder assessments for these offenders and updates provisions related to their supervision by probation and parole.
