Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2026

SB 402: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for administration of emergency anti-seizure medication.

SB 402 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication to students with epilepsy during seizures when a nurse is unavailable. It directly affects students with epilepsy, their parents/guardians (who must request training), and school employees (who may voluntarily undergo training). Key provisions require parental consent for staff training, mandate that participation be voluntary, and connect to existing disability laws (IDEA/Section 504) by encouraging schools to explore 504 plans or individualized health plans for affected students. The bill specifies that only FDA-approved medications (like nasal sprays) may be used, and trained staff must follow department-approved guidelines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables emergency anti-seizure medication access for students with epilepsy in schools, improving healthcare access and aligning with disability protections per public health needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1223: An Act amending the act of March 2, 1956 (1955 P.L.1206, No.375), known as the Podiatry Practice Act, further providing for application for examination.

HB 1223 amends Pennsylvania's Podiatry Practice Act to remove a specific citizenship requirement from the application process for podiatry licenses. The bill deletes language requiring applicants to prove U.S. citizenship or intent to become a citizen, while keeping all other requirements intact (such as graduation from an accredited school, age, moral character, and residency). This change directly affects future applicants seeking podiatry licensure in Pennsylvania by simplifying one part of their application documentation. The amendment modifies Section 4 of the existing law without altering practice standards or patient care requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves citizenship barrier for podiatry licensure, increasing healthcare provider access and aligning with improved patient access indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2025

HB 1391: 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 reimbursement for custom-fabricated devices, custom-fitted devices, orthosis, orthotics, over-the-counter prostheses, orthoses and pedorthic devices, prefabricated orthoses, prostheses, prosthetics and components of such devices.

House Bill 1391 amends The Insurance Company Law of 1921 to mandate that individual and group health insurance policies provide coverage for various custom-fabricated, custom-fitted, orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic devices. This applies when these devices are prescribed by an authorized medical professional, directly affecting individuals who require such medical aids and the health insurance companies providing their coverage. The bill requires coverage for the fitting, repair, or replacement of these devices, including those used for recreational, organized, or adaptive sports, and allows insurers to require preauthorization while applying standard cost-sharing. Additionally, Medicaid and contracted insurers would reimburse for these devices at Federal Medicare rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for prescribed medical devices, expanding patient access to essential orthotics/prosthetics under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 5, 2025

HB 446: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for medication offered to patient.

HB 446 requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in Pennsylvania to offer patients unused, facility-provided medication at no additional cost upon discharge, if the prescriber determines it's clinically appropriate for continuing treatment. The bill specifies that this applies only to non-controlled, multi-dose medications like eye drops, creams, or inhalers (excluding IV drugs or controlled substances), and mandates clear discharge instructions with usage details and contact information. Providers acting in good faith are protected from liability for patient misuse, and such medication offers are exempt from standard outpatient dispensing rules. This directly affects patients discharged from hospitals or ambulatory facilities and the healthcare facilities providing their care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to provide unused non-controlled meds at no cost upon discharge, improving patient access to continuing treatment and reducing out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1224: An Act amending the act of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699), known as the Pharmacy Act, further providing for licensing of pharmacists.

HB 1224 removes a citizenship requirement from Pennsylvania's pharmacist licensing rules. The bill amends the 1961 Pharmacy Act to delete the phrase "and is a citizen of the United States" from the eligibility criteria for pharmacists. This change directly affects individuals applying for pharmacist licenses in Pennsylvania who previously needed U.S. citizenship. The key provision modifies Section 3(a)(1) of the Pharmacy Act to allow licensure based solely on age (21+) and other existing requirements, without requiring U.S. citizenship. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves citizenship barrier for pharmacists, increasing access to pharmacy services and aligning with healthcare access goals by expanding qualified workforce eligibility.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves U.S. citizenship requirement for pharmacist licensing, enabling non-citizens (including immigrants) to work in pharmacy profession without citizenship, directly supporting immigrant integration and removing professional barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs Citizenship & Naturalization

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 739: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for title, for definitions, for State Board of Nursing, for dietitian-nutritionist license required, for unauthorized practices and acts not prohibited, for temporary practice permit, for graduates of schools of other states, territories or Dominion of Canada, for persons entitled to practice, for certified registered nurse practitioners and qualifications, for scope of practice for certified registered nurse practitioners, for prescriptive authority for certified registered nurse practitioners, for Drug Review Committee, for professional liability, for reporting of multiple licensure, for continuing nursing education, for punishment for violations, for refusal, suspension or revocation of licenses, for reinstatement of license and for injunction or other process; and providing for the expiration of the State Board of Nursing's power to license certified registered nurse practitioners.

HB 739 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Professional Nursing Law to modernize terminology and clarify roles for advanced practice nurses. It replaces "certified registered nurse practitioner" with "APRN-CNP" throughout the law, defines "collaboration" requirements for new APRN-CNPs (requiring 3,600 practice hours before independent work), and updates definitions for "medical nutrition therapy" and "population focus areas." The bill explicitly removes the State Board of Nursing's authority to license APRN-CNPs, shifting that responsibility elsewhere. These changes directly affect registered nurses seeking advanced practice certification and the Board's regulatory role in nursing licensure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes nursing law to clarify APRN roles, scope, and collaboration requirements, improving practice standards and access to advanced nursing care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1323: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, providing for advanced practice registered nurse.

HB 1323 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to establish a formal certification process for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). It requires the Board of Nursing to issue certificates to nurses holding a master's or higher degree who are already licensed as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, or nurse anesthetists. Certified APRNs may use the title "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" and "A.P.R.N.," and the Board must maintain a public online registry of all certified APRNs. This bill directly affects nurses seeking APRN certification in Pennsylvania and clarifies their title usage and public recordkeeping.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFormally certifies APRNs, enabling expanded access to advanced nursing care and strengthening provider recognition within healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 966: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in quality health care accountability and protection, further providing for departmental powers and duties and providing for additional penalties.

HB 966 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law of 1921 to strengthen consumer protections in health insurance. It requires insurance companies to pay penalties if over 50% of their denied health claims (excluding administrative denials) are later overturned through internal or external review processes. Penalties start at $50,000 for the first overturned claim and increase to $250,000 per claim for subsequent violations. Collected penalties must fund consumer protection activities, in addition to any other existing penalties. This directly affects health insurers operating in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens consumer protections in health insurance by penalizing insurers for unjust claim denials, funding consumer protection activities per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HR 273: A Resolution urging school districts to adopt later secondary school start times.

This resolution urges Pennsylvania school districts to consider later start times for secondary schools (high schools), citing studies showing teens need 8-10 hours of sleep but 98% of PA schools begin before 8:30 a.m. It references CDC and AAP research linking later start times to improved academic performance, reduced absenteeism, and better mental health outcomes. The bill encourages districts to collaborate with health professionals and educators to develop schedules that maintain educational activities while adopting later start times, and asks state agencies to provide resources and public education on adolescent sleep needs. As a non-binding resolution, it does not require policy changes but recommends action based on existing evidence.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUrges later start times citing CDC/AAP studies linking to improved academic performance, reduced absenteeism, and mental health - directly supports student outcomes in education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly cites CDC/AAP research linking later school start times to improved mental health outcomes, directly supporting mental health as a healthcare topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 654: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, establishing the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.

SB 654 establishes the Veterans Mental Health Services Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This program is designed to provide mental health care to honorably discharged veterans who have exhausted their federal mental health benefits or are in an acute crisis. Eligible veterans can receive reimbursement for up to five mental health sessions per year from participating health care providers, with the possibility of additional sessions if approved. The department will publish a list of participating providers and issue an annual report on the program's reach and services provided.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes state-funded mental health program for veterans, expanding access to care beyond federal benefits through reimbursement for sessions.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes state-funded mental health program for veterans with exhausted federal benefits, expanding access to care through reimbursement for sessions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

Track