Healthcare

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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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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