Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 884: An Act amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, in insurance, prohibiting certain adverse actions against legal reproductive health care.

SB 884 amends Pennsylvania's MCare Act to prohibit health insurance companies from taking negative actions against healthcare providers who offer legal reproductive health services, including telemedicine prescriptions for pregnancy termination to out-of-state patients. The bill specifically bans insurers from refusing to renew policies, raising premiums, or making other unfavorable changes solely because a provider offers such services permitted under Pennsylvania law. It defines "adverse actions" to include contract terminations, negative reporting to authorities, and coverage changes. This directly affects medical liability insurers and providers offering reproductive care, ensuring they cannot face financial penalties for serving patients from other states legally. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from taking adverse actions against providers offering legal reproductive health services, protecting patient access to care under Pennsylvania law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth Women's Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 25, 2025

SR 119: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 and amend or repeal Federal law relating to program requirements in order to allow for the availability of whole milk and 2% reduced fat milk, flavored or unflavored, in elementary and secondary schools in Pennsylvania and urging the United States Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Health and Human Services to update Federal standards relating to the establishment of dietary guidelines in order to permit the availability of whole milk and 2% reduced fat milk, flavored or unflavored, in elementary and secondary schools in Pennsylvania.

This resolution (SR 119) is a non-binding request from the Pennsylvania Senate urging Congress to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 and amend federal law. It specifically seeks to change current requirements under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which currently restricts school milk options to fat-free or low-fat varieties. The resolution asks Congress to allow whole milk and 2% reduced-fat milk (flavored or unflavored) in Pennsylvania's elementary and secondary schools, and directs federal agencies to update dietary guidelines accordingly. This would permit schools to offer these milk types without risking federal funding, but the resolution itself does not alter any existing law or standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks to amend federal school meal standards to permit whole milk, directly addressing public health program requirements under dietary guidelines for school nutrition.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 17, 2025

SB 1041: 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 for complex care assistant services.

SB 1041 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to expand public assistance coverage for complex care assistant services. It directly affects individuals requiring long-term, specialized personal care due to disabilities or chronic conditions. The bill establishes a new provision requiring the state to provide medical assistance for these services under the public assistance program. This changes existing coverage by explicitly including complex care assistants, who help with daily living tasks like bathing, feeding, and medication management. The bill is currently pending in the Health & Human Services committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands public assistance coverage for complex care assistant services, directly increasing healthcare access for individuals with disabilities/chronic conditions under state medical assistance program.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 190: 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 eating disorder awareness and education.

HB 190 requires Pennsylvania schools to annually provide eating disorder awareness and education materials to parents, guardians, and key school staff (like counselors and principals) for students in grades 6-12. The bill mandates that schools share this information via email, mail, or website, using materials developed by the Department of Health in collaboration with an advisory committee of experts from groups like the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and school health organizations. These materials must explain warning signs, resources, prevention, and be available in multiple languages. The law directly affects all public, charter, cyber, and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania, aiming to improve early recognition and support for students facing eating disorders.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school health education on eating disorders for grades 6-12, enhancing student well-being and school health services under education topic. Directly advances educational health support.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school-based eating disorder awareness/education, directly supporting mental health services through prevention and education as part of school health programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 8, 2025

HB 1234: 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 coverage for blood pressure monitors.

HB 1234 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to require public assistance programs to cover the cost of blood pressure monitors for eligible recipients. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in state public assistance programs who need blood pressure monitoring for health management. The bill adds blood pressure monitors to the list of covered medical equipment under the public assistance program, ensuring these devices are provided without cost to recipients. It does not change eligibility requirements but expands existing coverage to include this specific monitoring tool. The bill passed final passage on July 1, 2025, and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds blood pressure monitors to covered medical equipment under public assistance, expanding access to essential health devices without cost to recipients.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 809: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for definitions and for prohibited acts and penalties; and providing for syringe service programs authorized.

HB 809 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to clarify that syringes, needles, and related harm reduction supplies used in authorized syringe service programs or provided by pharmacies/healthcare providers are **not** considered "drug paraphernalia." This change directly affects syringe service programs, pharmacies, and healthcare providers operating under state regulations. The key provision (Section 2(b)(11)) explicitly exempts these items when used to prevent disease transmission and reduce harm among people who use drugs. The bill makes no changes to penalties or drug schedules - only updating definitions to protect public health initiatives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts syringe service program supplies from 'drug paraphernalia' classification, reducing criminalization of harm reduction efforts and advancing public health-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill exempts syringes/needles in authorized syringe service programs from 'drug paraphernalia' classification, enabling harm reduction programs to prevent disease transmission. Directly advances public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 819: An Act prohibiting governmental action against parents, legal custodians and legal guardians of minors in the provision of certain information and services to minors; and providing for certain protection from child abuse claims.

SB 819 prevents Pennsylvania government from blocking parents, legal custodians, or guardians from obtaining or providing medically accurate health information or evidence-based medical services to minors. It defines "medically accurate" as supported by current medical research or major health organizations, and "evidence-based" as care aligned with medical guidelines. The law explicitly states that such actions do not constitute child abuse under state law. It applies broadly to all minors, protecting parents who act based on medical evidence and the child’s specific circumstances.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes government barriers for parents to access medically accurate health info/services for minors, explicitly protecting access to evidence-based care without child abuse claims, improving healthcare access for minors.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 693: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act, in general provisions, providing for duty to warn.

SB 693 amends the Mental Health Procedures Act to establish a "duty to warn" for qualified mental health professionals. This bill requires professionals to notify a potential victim and law enforcement when a patient communicates a specific and immediate threat of serious bodily injury against an identifiable person. If the potential victim attends a school or institution of higher education, the professional must also submit a report through the Safe2Say Program. Professionals acting in good faith in discharging this duty are protected from civil or criminal liability.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health professionals to notify victims/law enforcement about imminent threats, strengthening patient safety protocols under mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 29, 2025

HB 1519: 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 mental illness coverage.

HB 1519 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover mental illness treatments. This directly affects insurance companies writing casualty policies and policyholders seeking mental health services. The key provision mandates that insurers include mental health coverage in standard casualty policies, aligning it with other health coverage requirements. The bill focuses on expanding access to mental health care by ensuring it is covered under these specific insurance policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental illness coverage in casualty insurance policies, expanding access to mental health services per healthcare policy requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 13: An Act providing for mandatory Statewide employer-paid sick leave for employees and for civil penalties and remedies.

This bill requires most Pennsylvania employers to provide paid sick leave to employees, directly affecting workers and their families who need time for medical care, family health needs, or public health emergencies. Employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (max 56 hours/year), with rules on accrual, carryover, and usage. Employers with existing equivalent paid leave policies (covering the same purposes and conditions) are exempt. The bill mandates employers to provide written notice of leave policies and prohibits retaliation against employees using sick leave, with pay calculated at the employee's regular rate or minimum wage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires paid sick leave for medical care access, enabling employees to seek treatment without financial penalty - directly improves healthcare access per bill's medical care purpose clause.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-paid sick leave, expanding worker benefits and protecting health needs, aligning with support indicators for labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

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