Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 579: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, providing for licensing and regulating the practice of music therapy; and making editorial changes.

SB 579 adds music therapy as a licensed profession under Pennsylvania's existing Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act. It requires individuals practicing music therapy to obtain a license to use the title "licensed professional music therapist" and defines the scope of practice, including clinical music interventions like improvisation and songwriting for therapeutic goals. The bill directly affects music therapists seeking to legally represent their credentials in Pennsylvania, while excluding students, supervised practitioners, and those not claiming to be licensed therapists. Key provisions clarify what constitutes "practice of music therapy" and establish the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Music Therapists to oversee licensing. This bill does not change employment requirements for government or nonprofit agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds music therapy as a licensed profession under healthcare regulation, defining scope for therapeutic use (e.g., improvisation/songwriting), directly supporting mental health service access and professional standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 75: 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.

HB 75 amends Pennsylvania's Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to update the definition of "primary supervising physician" to include medical doctors (MDs) licensed by the State Board of Medicine, alongside osteopathic physicians (DOs). This change allows physician assistants to have either an MD or a DO as their primary supervising physician under a written agreement, expanding oversight options beyond current restrictions. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment and does not alter other provisions of the law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands PA supervision options to include MDs, improving access to healthcare services by broadening oversight pathways under medical practice regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 692: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in human services, further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care.

SB 692 amends Pennsylvania's medical assistance program to set limits on how payment rates can change for nursing facilities. It requires that nonpublic nursing facility payments stay at or above 90% of prior rates starting July 1, 2025, while county facility payments must maintain 100% plus any percentage change applied to nonpublic rates. These payment rate limits will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, or until a new rate-setting system replaces the current one. The bill directly affects county and nonpublic nursing facilities enrolled in Pennsylvania's medical assistance program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents funding cuts to nursing facilities by setting minimum payment rates (90% for nonpublic, 100%+ for county) in medical assistance program.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents payment rate cuts for nursing facilities, maintaining current funding levels for medical assistance programs under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2026

HB 1296: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, providing for contributions to the Fire Company Grant Program and for contributions to the Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.

HB 1296 adds an optional $5 contribution during vehicle registration renewals and driver's license/ID renewals to fund two specific programs. Vehicle registrants and driver's license holders can choose to contribute $5 (or $10 for two-year registrations) to either the Fire Company Grant Program or Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. The contributions are added to existing renewal fees and deposited into restricted accounts within the General Fund, which the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency then uses to make grants under existing law. This bill directly affects Pennsylvanians renewing vehicle registrations or driver's licenses, with no mandatory contribution required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds Emergency Medical Services Grant Program via optional vehicle registration contributions, directly supporting healthcare service funding.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 392: 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, further providing for billing.

HB 392 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to require insurers to provide detailed written notifications when reimbursing policyholders for non-network emergency medical services (EMS). The bill mandates that these notifications include the service date, EMS agency name, itemized claim details, billing address, and a clear statement that funds must be used solely to pay the emergency medical bill (with fraud warnings for misuse). Insurers must also notify EMS agencies monthly about payments made to policyholders for non-network emergency care. This directly affects insurers (who must follow the billing rules) and policyholders (who receive the notifications). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to provide detailed emergency reimbursement notifications with fraud warnings, ensuring transparency and protecting patient rights in healthcare billing processes.85% confidence

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 755: An Act providing for health care insurance preventive services coverage protections; conferring authority on the Insurance Department and the Insurance Commissioner; and providing for regulations, for enforcement and for penalties.

HB 755 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania (excluding grandfathered plans) to cover all preventive health services listed by the Insurance Department without cost-sharing, such as copays or deductibles. This directly affects insurers who must comply with the coverage rules and enrollees who gain access to preventive care like vaccinations and screenings at no extra cost. The bill empowers the Insurance Department to create and update the preventive services list through a public comment process (15+ business days) and enforce compliance with penalties for violations. It aligns with federal preventive care standards but allows Pennsylvania to adjust the list based on public input and evidence-based guidelines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover preventive services without cost-sharing, expanding access to vaccinations and screenings at no extra cost.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 17, 2025

HB 213: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for confidential communications involving emergency responders and providing for mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers.

This bill strengthens mental health support for emergency responders in Pennsylvania. It creates new confidentiality protections, prohibiting peer support staff, healthcare providers, or helplines from sharing an emergency responder's mental health information without consent (except in clear danger situations). Specifically for 911 dispatchers, it requires employers to provide free mental health evaluations for PTSD symptoms upon the dispatcher's request or a supervisor's recommendation. If symptoms are identified, the employer must cover treatment until a provider determines the dispatcher can return to full duties, with administrative duty assigned during this period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates confidentiality protections for emergency responders' mental health and mandates free PTSD evaluations, strengthening mental health services access for first responders.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates confidential mental health support and free PTSD evaluations for emergency responders, strengthening workplace wellness protections under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 826: An Act amending the act of October 24, 2018 (P.L.719, No.112), known as the Patient Test Result Information Act, further providing for definitions; providing for Lyme disease testing disclosure; and imposing duties on health care practitioners.

SB 826 amends Pennsylvania's Patient Test Result Information Act to require clinical laboratories to notify healthcare practitioners when reporting Lyme disease test results. The notice must inform practitioners that Lyme tests can be inaccurate and advise patients to consult their provider about symptoms and retesting if needed. Healthcare practitioners must then provide this exact notice to patients when delivering their test results. The bill directly affects Lyme disease patients, healthcare providers, and clinical laboratories in Pennsylvania. It adds a specific disclosure requirement without changing existing professional duties to inform patients about test results.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Lyme test result disclosures to inform patients about inaccuracies and retesting, enhancing patient rights and informed decision-making in healthcare.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 720: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for initial vision examination.

SB 720 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to modify vision health requirements for school-aged children in public and nonpublic schools. It mandates that children receive a comprehensive eye health and vision examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist before their first school admission, and again in fourth and eighth grades. The bill also requires an annual vision screening or eye examination. If a child fails a school-provided vision screening, a comprehensive eye health and vision examination becomes mandatory, to be completed within 120 days or before the next school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates comprehensive vision exams for students to ensure health access, directly supporting educational readiness and student well-being per school health requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive vision exams and annual screenings for school children, enhancing preventive eye health services in public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 891: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for examinations and certificates; and abrogating regulations.

SB 891 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to streamline the licensing process for nursing applicants. It requires the Board of Nursing to immediately admit eligible applicants who have completed an approved nursing program and provided verification, removing administrative delays. The bill specifically abrogates two existing regulations (49 Pa. Code §§ 21.21 and 21.23) that conflicted with this new requirement. This change directly affects nursing applicants and the Board of Nursing, ensuring timely exam access for qualified candidates. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines nursing licensing by removing administrative delays, improving access to healthcare professionals per bill's focus on expediting board admissions for eligible applicants.95% confidence

Track