Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 883: An Act amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in powers and duties, providing for limitations on licensure disqualification and discipline.

SB 883 prevents Pennsylvania licensing boards from disqualifying or disciplining healthcare professionals who provide reproductive health care services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, or abortion services. It specifically protects licensed providers (like doctors, nurses, or clinics) from penalties based on their provision of such services, or from disciplinary actions imposed in other states for the same services if they would have been lawful in Pennsylvania. The law amends state licensing statutes to prohibit these disciplinary actions, ensuring that licensed professionals cannot face licensure consequences for offering reproductive health care consistent with Pennsylvania standards. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents disciplinary actions against healthcare providers offering reproductive care, protecting access to services like abortion and contraception under healthcare access rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 1044: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in epinephrine auto-injector entities, further providing for scope of chapter, for definitions and for epinephrine auto-injectors for authorized entities; and making an editorial change.

HB 1044 allows authorized entities like schools, childcare centers, or sports organizations to stock and use epinephrine delivery systems (e.g., auto-injectors) without requiring individual prescriptions for each person. It permits these entities to acquire devices under a single prescription from a healthcare provider, store them accessibly per FDA guidelines, and train designated staff to recognize anaphylaxis and administer the devices. Staff who complete approved training can use the devices in good faith for anyone showing signs of a severe allergic reaction, regardless of prior diagnosis or prescription. The bill also includes protections for individuals acting in good faith during emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves emergency access to epinephrine by allowing schools/organizations to stock auto-injectors without individual prescriptions, enhancing patient safety during anaphylaxis incidents.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 475: 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 dialysis centers.

HB 475 amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to establish staffing requirements for dialysis centers. It mandates that all dialysis facilities - whether hospital-owned, Commonwealth-run, or independent - must maintain at least one trained dialysis caregiver for every four patients receiving active treatment. The bill defines "dialysis caregiver" to include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and dialysis technicians, who must provide direct care during hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease. This requirement applies to both inpatient and outpatient settings and directly affects all dialysis centers operating under Pennsylvania licensing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 1:4 staffing ratio for dialysis centers requiring trained caregivers (nurses, technicians), improving patient safety and care quality per Health Care Facilities Act amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 1602: An Act amending the act of November 22, 2005 (P.L.407, No.74), known as the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act, further providing for short title, for definitions and for Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Program established.

HB 1602 amends Pennsylvania's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act to update the program's short title, definitions, and administrative structure. It clarifies operational details without changing the core screening services provided to patients. The bill directly affects the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Program, healthcare providers offering screenings, and patients seeking preventive care. The bill was referred to the Insurance committee on June 16, 2025, for further review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends breast/cervical cancer screening program to clarify operations, maintaining program efficiency without reducing services.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 618: An Act providing for health insurance access protections; imposing duties on the Insurance Department and the Insurance Commissioner; and imposing penalties.

HB 618, the Health Insurance Access Protection Act, prohibits health insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on a person's health condition, including preexisting conditions. This law applies to both individual and group health insurance policies, protecting enrollees and their dependents from discrimination in enrollment or pricing. The Insurance Department and Commissioner are tasked with enforcing these rules, and the bill includes penalties for insurers that violate the prohibitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums for preexisting conditions, directly protecting patient access and rights in health insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 86: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for State Board of Nursing.

HB 86 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to change the composition and term length of the State Board of Nursing. The bill reduces board members' terms from six to four years and specifies that six of the nine appointed nursing members must be registered nurses (with at least three holding Master's degrees), two must be licensed practical nurses, and one must be a licensed dietitian-nutritionist. It also adds requirements for public representation on the board, prohibiting members representing the public from having financial ties to dietitian services or having household members who are dietitians. These changes directly affect who serves on the State Board of Nursing, not nursing practice standards or patient care. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends nursing board composition to require higher qualifications (e.g., Master's degrees for RNs), strengthening regulatory oversight of nursing practice and patient safety standards.85% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 4, 2025

SR 27: A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study as to the feasibility of establishing a no-fault catastrophic loss fund to provide payment for claims brought as the result of birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania.

This Senate Resolution (SR 27) directs Pennsylvania's Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the feasibility of creating a no-fault catastrophic loss fund for birth-related neurological injury claims. The study would examine whether such a fund - paying claims without requiring proof of medical negligence - could help address high malpractice insurance costs for obstetric providers and reduce barriers to obstetric care in Pennsylvania, particularly in underserved areas. The committee must also analyze costs in other states with similar funds and consult with hospitals, providers, and patient advocates before reporting back within one year.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStudy aims to address obstetric care access barriers by exploring no-fault fund to reduce malpractice costs for providers, improving patient access to care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 494: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for departmental powers and duties as to small personal care homes; and imposing penalties.

HB 494 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to create new rules for small personal care homes that provide daily assistance (like bathing, medication help, or meal prep) to 3 or fewer non-relatives who don’t need full long-term care. It directly affects operators and staff of these homes by requiring annual unannounced inspections, mandatory criminal background checks for all staff, and registration with the state for administrators. Key provisions include creating a state registry for homes, setting minimum care standards through new regulations, and allowing penalties for non-compliance. The bill aims to strengthen oversight while focusing on homes that serve vulnerable adults with basic care needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires safety inspections and background checks for personal care homes, enhancing resident safety and care standards in healthcare settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 950: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in long-term care, providing for premium rate increases.

HB 950 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to regulate long-term care insurance premiums. It prohibits insurers from increasing premiums based on the policyholder's age or how long they've held the policy, and caps annual renewal increases at 15% of the prior year's premium. The state insurance commissioner must disapprove increases deemed excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory, or if they exceed the 15% annual cap. Insurers may request a higher increase (over 15%) only if they demonstrate unexpected high usage of policy benefits, with commissioner approval. This directly affects long-term care policyholders and insurers operating in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates long-term care insurance premiums to prevent age-based increases and cap annual hikes at 15%, protecting consumers from excessive costs and discrimination in coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 689: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in administrative organization, further providing for work-hours and leaves.

HB 689 clarifies leave policies for Pennsylvania state employees when their department, board, or commission closes due to a Governor-declared disaster emergency or other unforeseen events beyond control. If closure prevents an employee from working for at least five consecutive business days, they may be placed on unpaid leave while retaining health insurance and other fringe benefits (such as retirement contributions). Employees can choose to use accrued paid leave first before transitioning to unpaid leave. This applies to most employees but excludes those who can telework or are already furloughed, and does not affect eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures state employees retain health insurance during unpaid disaster leave, protecting existing coverage continuity without restricting benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures state employees retain health insurance and fringe benefits during forced closures due to disasters, allowing use of accrued paid leave first, protecting worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Paid Leave Public Employees Unemployment

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