Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1280: An Act amending the act of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699), known as the Pharmacy Act, providing for medication error prevention training.

HB 1280 requires pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees in Pennsylvania to complete annual medication error prevention training. The training covers key topics like medication categories, overdose management, proper storage, and the "six principles" of medication administration (correct drug, dose, person, time, method, and documentation). Participants must score at least 80% on an exam and demonstrate knowledge of medication names, purposes, side effects, and special instructions to receive certification. New pharmacists licensed in Pennsylvania for less than five years must complete this training twice yearly until they meet the five-year threshold.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires annual medication error prevention training for pharmacists to improve patient safety and reduce adverse events in medication administration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 628: 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 misbranding.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's drug and cosmetic law to require clearer labeling on oral medications. It adds specific definitions for common food allergens (like milk, eggs, peanuts, and soy) and gluten-containing grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats). The key change mandates that any oral drug containing ingredients derived from these allergens or gluten grains must label the specific ingredient and the source grain (e.g., "contains wheat"). This directly affects drug manufacturers and pharmacies in Pennsylvania, requiring updated labeling for affected products. The law takes effect two years after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates allergen/gluten labeling on oral medications to prevent adverse reactions, directly enhancing patient safety and access to safe drug use.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 320: An Act prohibiting for-profit entities from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in this Commonwealth.

SB 320 bans for-profit companies (including corporations, private equity firms, and investment banks) from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania. It would prevent new for-profit ownership but allows existing for-profit hospitals and health systems to continue operating as they are. The law defines "for-profit entity" broadly and exempts current owners as of the law's effective date. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no new for-profit acquisitions permitted after that date. This directly affects current and future hospital ownership structures in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans for-profit hospital ownership to prevent profit-driven decisions, strengthening public healthcare access and protecting patient rights from commercialization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1055: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of intimidation of health care workers.

HB 1055 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for threatening healthcare workers, specifically targeting threats intended to interfere with their duties. It defines the crime as knowingly making oral/written threats against healthcare practitioners, technicians, or hospital security officers, with penalties escalating from a minor violation for a first offense to a third-degree misdemeanor for repeat offenses. The law requires healthcare facilities to post clear notices about this offense at all public entrances, and a person cannot be convicted if the notice wasn’t displayed (unless they knew about the offense). This bill directly affects anyone making threats against covered healthcare workers in Pennsylvania, aiming to protect them from intimidation during work.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense for threatening healthcare workers with escalating penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare workers from intimidation, ensuring uninterrupted services and safety, directly aligns with safeguarding medical professionals under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 3, 2025

SB 1022: 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 drug overdose medication.

SB 1022 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to clarify definitions related to drug overdose medication. It specifically defines terms for medications like naloxone used to reverse overdoses, ensuring healthcare providers and pharmacists have clear legal guidance. The bill directly affects medical professionals who administer or distribute overdose reversal treatments. This procedural amendment updates existing law without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies legal definitions for naloxone administration, enabling healthcare providers to safely reverse overdoses without ambiguity, advancing patient access to life-saving care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1310: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care.

HB 1310 amends the Human Services Code to modify how medical assistance payments are determined for institutional care in nursing facilities. The bill specifically adjusts the application of a "revenue adjustment neutrality factor" to payment rates for county and nonpublic nursing facilities. Beginning July 1, 2025, the factor for nonpublic facilities must be equal to or greater than 0.90, while for county facilities, it will be 1.00 plus the percentage rate of change applied to nonpublic facilities. This change directly affects these nursing facilities and the eligible individuals receiving care within them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill adjusts payment rates for nursing facilities to ensure minimum funding levels (≥0.90 for nonpublic, 1.00+ for county), preventing cuts to medical assistance programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 79: An Act establishing requirements for hospital-based financial assistance; providing for hospital-based financial assistance forms, for information about hospital-based financial assistance programs and for reporting of hospital-based financial assistance policies; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

HB 79 requires hospitals to establish clear financial assistance programs for patients who cannot afford care, including standardized forms and easily accessible information about eligibility and coverage. It mandates that hospitals publicly share details about their financial aid policies and report their program rules to the Department of Health. These requirements directly affect hospitals operating in the state and patients seeking financial help with medical bills. The bill aims to standardize and increase transparency in hospital financial aid offerings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals to establish clear financial assistance programs for uninsured patients, improving access to care and transparency in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 351: 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, providing for coverage for infertility treatment.

SB 351 mandates that health insurance policies in Pennsylvania providing pregnancy-related benefits must cover infertility treatment expenses, including IVF, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination. It applies to policies delivered, issued, or renewed in the state, requiring coverage for diagnosis and treatment while allowing limited restrictions like waiting periods (aligned with medical guidelines) or copayments not exceeding those for pregnancy benefits. The bill explicitly excludes coverage for infertility resulting from elective sterilization reversal and allows religious organizations to opt out of covering these procedures. This policy change directly affects insured individuals seeking fertility care and insurers offering pregnancy-related coverage in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for infertility treatments, expanding reproductive healthcare access beyond pregnancy benefits while allowing limited restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates infertility treatment coverage under pregnancy-related health insurance, expanding employee health benefits and strengthening workplace healthcare access for workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1309: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for electronic monitoring of in-home supportive care; and making editorial changes.

HB 1309 adds new rules to Pennsylvania's Human Services Code for electronic monitoring in homes where in-home supportive care is provided under the LIFE program. It requires care recipients or their guardians to notify caregivers in writing about any video-only monitoring device before care begins, including its location and function, while prohibiting audio recording or placement in bathrooms. The bill mandates that devices be visible, timestamp recordings, and allows caregivers to consent to visual monitoring, with costs borne by the care recipient or guardian. It also prohibits denying care or retaliating against individuals who use such devices, ensuring privacy protections for care recipients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates patient privacy protections in home care monitoring, requiring written notice and prohibiting audio/bathroom use, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates privacy protections for electronic monitoring devices, prohibiting audio/bathroom use and requiring consent, aligning with data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2025

HB 1088: 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, providing for coverage for blood pressure monitors.

HB 1088 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover blood pressure monitors. This directly affects policyholders who rely on these devices for managing health conditions like hypertension, ensuring they are not excluded from standard coverage. The bill adds a specific provision mandating insurers to include blood pressure monitors as covered items under casualty insurance policies. It changes insurer obligations without altering broader policy terms, focusing on making a common medical device accessible through existing insurance frameworks.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for blood pressure monitors, expanding access to essential hypertension management devices under casualty policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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