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.
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.
This bill amends Pennsylvania law to prohibit healthcare providers from using telemedicine to prescribe certain medications to patients within the state. Specifically, it disallows the use of telemedicine for medications that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated with a "risk evaluation and mitigation strategy." These strategies are special safety programs implemented by the FDA for medications with specific serious risks. The aim is to enhance medication safety by ensuring such medications are not prescribed remotely via telemedicine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SB 936, the "PEP for Pennsylvania Act," requires all health insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania to cover the cost of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) HIV medication - FDA-approved drugs taken after potential HIV exposure to prevent infection. It mandates this coverage for all qualifying health insurance plans (excluding dental, vision, or limited benefit policies) starting 60 days after the law takes effect, and prohibits insurers from placing PEP medications in higher-cost specialty tiers solely for profit. The bill also prevents insurers from requiring unnecessary counseling from infectious disease specialists to access PEP, unless medically needed. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents with health insurance by ensuring access to critical HIV prevention medication without financial barriers.
HB 1739 would create a statewide "All Payor Claims Database" under Pennsylvania's health laws, requiring healthcare providers and insurers to submit claims data to this centralized system. The Health Care Cost Containment Council would be responsible for managing the database and ensuring compliance, with penalties for failure to report data accurately. The bill includes funding ("makes an appropriation") to support the database's development and operation. This directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and the Council, as they would be required to submit, manage, and use the claims data for oversight purposes.
House Bill 1469 amends the Health Care Facilities Act to establish requirements for hospital price transparency. It mandates that hospitals publish a comprehensive list of their standard charges for all items and services on their public websites in a readable digital format. This list must include gross charges, discounted cash prices, and various negotiated rates with third-party payors. The bill also provides for a prohibition on debt collection action against patients by hospitals that do not comply with these requirements, aiming to give patients clearer access to pricing information.
