Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 949: 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 speech therapy for stuttering.

HB 949 requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy for childhood stuttering and apraxia. This applies to all health insurance policies issued, renewed, or filed with the state within 180 days of the law's effective date. The bill defines "childhood stuttering" (ages 2-6) and "apraxia" (a neurological speech disorder), specifying coverage must follow standard policy terms like medical necessity and cost-sharing. It explicitly excludes school-based therapy covered solely through an individualized education program (IEP). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for childhood speech therapy, expanding health services access and aligning with healthcare coverage protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 8, 2025

SB 921: 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 surgical smoke evacuation systems.

SB 921 requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in Pennsylvania to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems by January 1, 2027, to prevent exposure to surgical smoke generated during procedures. The bill defines "surgical smoke" as the plume from energy-based surgical tools, including harmful bio-aerosols and contaminants. The Department of Health will enforce this during facility inspections and when addressing complaints about violations. This policy directly affects healthcare facilities by mandating specific safety equipment to protect staff and patients from respiratory and eye exposure during surgeries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires smoke evacuation systems to prevent surgical smoke exposure, enhancing healthcare facility safety standards and protecting staff/patients from harmful contaminants.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems to protect healthcare workers from hazardous bio-aerosols, directly improving workplace safety standards for medical staff.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Sep 19, 2025

SB 1016: An Act amending the act of June 13, 2008 (P.L.182, No.27), known as the Clean Indoor Air Act, further providing for title of act, for definitions, for prohibition, for signage, for enforcement, for preemption of local ordinances and for repeal; and making editorial changes.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act (2008) to update definitions, expand smoking prohibitions, clarify signage requirements, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and clarify that state law preempts stricter local smoking ordinances. It directly affects businesses operating in public spaces (like restaurants, bars, and workplaces) and local governments that previously enacted more restrictive smoking bans. The key change is reinforcing state-level rules over local ones, while making editorial updates to the existing law's structure. This focuses on maintaining consistent indoor air quality standards across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands smoking prohibitions in public spaces to reduce secondhand smoke exposure, a core public health measure under healthcare policy90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill preempts stricter local smoking bans, weakening more protective workplace safety measures under state law instead of allowing local enhancements.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 720: 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 do-not-resuscitate orders for minors.

HB 720, or "Simon's Law," amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to require written parental consent for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders for minors. It prohibits healthcare facilities or providers from implementing DNR orders or restricting life-sustaining measures without written permission from at least one parent or legal guardian. The bill mandates detailed documentation of consent (including names, relationships, and dates) and allows parents to revoke consent in writing, which overrides prior agreements. It also requires facilities to make good-faith efforts to contact parents within 48 hours and prohibits interfering with parents seeking second opinions or transferring care to another facility. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers treating minors in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires parental consent for minor DNRs, protecting parental rights in healthcare decisions per Health Care Facilities Act amendment.92% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 6, 2025

HR 364: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to expand TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility to include members of reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States who are enrolled or eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

This resolution urges Congress to expand TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility to include reserve component service members already enrolled or eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). Currently, these reservists may not qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select despite their FEHBP enrollment. The bill proposes a policy change to align their military health coverage options with active-duty counterparts, though it is non-binding and requires congressional action to become law. It directly affects reserve members serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard who are FEHBP participants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility for reservists with FEHBP, increasing access to military health coverage and aligning with active-duty benefits.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility for reservists enrolled in FEHBP, improving healthcare access for military veterans and aligning with active-duty benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 622: 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.

SB 622 modifies Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law of 1921 to change how non-network emergency medical services (EMS) agencies bill insurers and patients. It requires EMS agencies to submit an annual form by October 15 to receive direct payments from insurers, with the Department of Health maintaining a public registry of these agreements. The bill prohibits EMS agencies from billing patients directly when insurers pay at network rates (except for copayments/deductibles) and bans suggesting donations will avoid billing. These changes apply specifically to insurers covering emergency medical services under health insurance policies, excluding certain types like homeowner's or fixed indemnity insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires direct insurer payments to EMS, prohibits excessive patient billing for non-network services, reducing financial burden and improving access to emergency care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1132: 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 unhealthy ultra-processed food prohibited in competitive foods.

HB 1132 prohibits Pennsylvania public schools from selling or offering "unhealthy ultra-processed foods" as competitive foods during the school day. It defines "ultra-processed food" as items containing specific additives like artificial colors, stabilizers, non-nutritive sweeteners, or flavor enhancers (excluding natural seasonings), and "unhealthy" as failing FDA standards for the term "healthy" on labels. Competitive foods - such as vending machine snacks or cafeteria items sold alongside school meals - are banned if they contain these unhealthy items. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting public school food vendors, students, and school nutrition programs across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits unhealthy ultra-processed foods in school competitive foods to promote student health under Public School Code, aligning with educational health standards and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits unhealthy ultra-processed foods in schools per FDA health standards, advancing child nutrition public health initiative.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 10, 2025

HB 1583: An Act amending the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of board, for training and license required and exceptions, for qualifications for license, examinations, failure of examinations, licensure without examination, issuing of license, foreign applicants for licensure, temporary license and perjury, for continuing education, for practice of physical therapy and for physical therapist assistant, education and examination, scope of duties and certification.

HB 1583 amends Pennsylvania's Physical Therapy Practice Act to clarify that a "certificate of authorization" is a board-approved certificate allowing physical therapists to practice without a referral under specific conditions. The bill updates definitions and related sections of the act to ensure consistent application of this provision. This change directly affects physical therapists and physical therapist assistants seeking licensure or certification in Pennsylvania by clarifying when a certificate of authorization may be used. The bill does not alter core licensure requirements but refines administrative language to improve clarity in practice standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies physical therapists can practice without referrals, improving patient access to services per the Physical Therapy Practice Act amendment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 1445: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for school-based services; and, in telemedicine, further providing for insurance coverage of telemedicine.

HB 1445 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania to cover medically necessary health services provided in schools - such as mental health care, behavioral health services, and speech therapy - without denying coverage solely because the service occurs in a school setting. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage based on location (e.g., through "school setting" or "place of service" exclusions), applying to public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools. Exceptions allow denials if services are provided by unlicensed individuals, are not medically necessary per insurer policies, or conflict with existing legal obligations (like IEPs). This law directly affects students receiving school-based care, insurers, and school entities, ensuring coverage parity for services delivered on school premises.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires insurers to cover school-based health services (mental health, therapy) without location-based denials, enhancing student access to care and supporting educational well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for school-based mental health, behavioral health, and speech therapy services, prohibiting location-based exclusions to expand access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance Telehealth

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 339: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for mental health check-ins.

HB 339 requires Pennsylvania public schools (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and eligible nonpublic schools to implement daily mental health check-ins for all kindergarten through 12th-grade students starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill mandates school entities to adopt policies identifying students experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or at risk of suicide/self-harm based on their check-in responses. The state Department of Education must create and provide a model policy to all schools upon request. This policy change directly affects all K-12 students and school staff in Pennsylvania's public and qualifying nonpublic schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates daily mental health check-ins for K-12 students to identify at-risk cases, enhancing student well-being support within educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates daily mental health check-ins in schools to identify at-risk students, directly expanding mental health services access for youth under healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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