Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 537: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for medical assistance payments for orthotics and prosthetics.

SB 537 would require Pennsylvania's Medicaid program to reimburse providers for custom orthotics (like braces) and prosthetics (like artificial limbs) at rates no lower than the current Medicare fee schedule. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients needing these medical devices and the healthcare providers who supply them. The bill mandates that the state update its reimbursement rates quarterly to match Medicare's current rates for all applicable codes. This policy aligns Pennsylvania's Medicaid payments more closely with federal Medicare standards for these specific medical equipment items.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid to reimburse orthotics/prosthetics at Medicare rates, expanding coverage access for beneficiaries and providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 157: An Act providing for grant awards to entities in rural counties and designated medically underserved areas to pay for the education debt of practitioners employed at the entity.

HB 157 creates state grants to help healthcare entities in rural counties or designated medically underserved areas cover the student loan debt of their employed healthcare practitioners. The grants would be paid directly to the healthcare facilities (like clinics or hospitals), not to individual providers, to offset the cost of practitioners' education debt. This aims to support recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in areas with limited access to medical services. The program would be funded through state appropriations, targeting facilities serving communities with significant healthcare access challenges.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state grant program funding healthcare workforce retention in underserved areas, directly increasing government spending on essential public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds debt relief for rural healthcare practitioners to improve workforce retention in underserved areas, directly enhancing access to medical services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides state grants to healthcare facilities to cover practitioners' education debt, directly supporting recruitment/retention in underserved areas - advancing employment standards for healthcare workers.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1166: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for health care worker platforms; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

HB 1166 regulates digital platforms that connect healthcare workers with facilities (like staffing apps). It requires these platforms to register with Pennsylvania’s Department of Health ($1,000 fee), verify workers’ licenses, background checks, and insurance, and maintain records for three years. The bill also sets rules ensuring healthcare workers using these platforms are classified as independent contractors (not employees) and must have annual physicals/CPR certification if providing direct patient care. These requirements apply directly to platforms operating in Pennsylvania and the healthcare workers using them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates healthcare staffing platforms with safety verifications (licensing, background checks, CPR), improving patient safety standards in health services.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentClassifies healthcare workers as independent contractors, avoiding employee benefits like minimum wage, overtime, and collective bargaining protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Professional Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 419: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to public safety, establishing the Train Derailment Emergency Grant Program and Train Derailment Emergency Grant Fund.

SB 419 creates a grant program to provide financial assistance to residents and small businesses directly affected by the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The program covers medical expenses, lost income, property damage, relocation costs, and decontamination for homeowners and small businesses (under 100 employees) located within 15 miles of the derailment site or demonstrating contamination evidence. Administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, grants are funded through state appropriations, federal money, settlements from responsible parties, or other designated sources. Applications can be submitted anytime for expenses occurring on or after February 3, 2023, with applicants required to provide "actual proof" of impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCovers medical expenses for derailment victims, directly funding healthcare costs related to emergency response and contamination.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 1070: An Act amending the act of July 2, 1996 (P.L.514, No.85), known as the Health Security Act, further providing for definitions and for postpartum coverage standards; providing for provisions relating to involuntary discharge; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services.

HB 1070 requires all health insurance policies covering maternity benefits in Pennsylvania to provide 24 additional hours of elective postpartum observation and care beyond the existing 48-96 hours of inpatient coverage, starting January 1, 2026. It also prohibits hospitals from involuntarily discharging postpartum patients or newborns between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., with billing under "observation status" if discharge is refused. The bill directly affects mothers, newborns, hospitals, and health insurers by extending coverage duration and restricting nighttime discharges. The Department of Human Services must seek a federal waiver to extend government program coverage for this additional 24-hour period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires 24 additional hours of postpartum coverage and prohibits involuntary discharges between 10 PM-8 AM, expanding maternal health protections and patient rights.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands maternity healthcare benefits by mandating 24+ hours postpartum coverage and prohibiting involuntary discharge, strengthening employee health protections under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 522: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for Collaborative Care Model and Primary Care Behavioral Health Model Implementation Program.

SB 522 provides funding and support for integrating mental health services into primary care settings across Pennsylvania. It allocates grants to primary care physicians and practices to cover initial costs of implementing collaborative care models (like hiring staff, upgrading technology, and creating patient tracking systems), with priority for rural clinics and areas with high suicide or overdose rates. The bill also establishes regional technical assistance centers to help practices develop staffing models, integrate tools into electronic records, and navigate billing. These provisions directly affect primary care providers statewide, aiming to improve access to behavioral health services through existing medical settings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state grants for mental health integration in primary care, funding essential public health services through government spending.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides grants for mental health integration into primary care, prioritizes high-need areas, and establishes technical assistance centers for behavioral health implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 17, 2025

HB 1202: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing and providing for duties of the Infectious Disease Advisory Commission.

HB 1202 establishes Pennsylvania's Infectious Disease Advisory Commission to coordinate long-term responses to public health emergencies like pandemics. The bill requires the Governor to select a statewide organization via competitive bidding to manage a PPE stockpile, including sourcing from in-state manufacturers and maintaining four designated storage locations. It directly affects healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes, assisted living centers, and personal care homes) by mandating infectious disease plans and requiring facilities to designate coordinators for outbreak response. Key provisions include creating the Commission, defining emergency protocols, and ensuring PPE availability during health crises. The law focuses on systemic preparedness rather than specific pandemic responses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes Infectious Disease Advisory Commission and mandates PPE stockpile management to strengthen public health emergency response for healthcare facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Public Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1154: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in general budget implementation, further providing for Department of Health.

HB 1154 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to develop and implement a mobile application targeting Medicaid-eligible individuals for pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, and infant care programs. The app must provide multilingual resources, connect users to state health services, meet clinical standards from major medical organizations, and operate on Android/iOS platforms. The department must select a vendor through competitive bidding within 90 days, paying $10 per user monthly with an annual cap of $500,000. The bill mandates the vendor to report de-identified usage data, including Medicaid eligibility engagement and app interaction metrics, to the department.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $10/user monthly state expenditure for health app, directly increasing budget allocation for public health services per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mobile app for Medicaid-eligible prenatal/postpartum care access, expanding healthcare services and patient connectivity through state-funded program expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Medicaid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 17, 2025

HB 1623: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for notification requirements for older adult health insurance policies.

HB 1623 requires health insurance companies in Pennsylvania to provide specific notifications to older adults about their health insurance policies. The bill targets policies designed for or held by older adults (typically age 65+), mandating that insurers share key details like coverage changes or cost adjustments. The key provision establishes a new notification requirement for insurers, aiming to improve transparency for older policyholders. The bill is currently referred to the Insurance committee for further review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer notifications to older adults about policy changes, enhancing transparency and protecting patient rights in health insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 461: An Act providing for Commonwealth funding safety and transparency.

HB 461, the Commonwealth Funding Safety and Transparency Act, requires nonprofits and their partners receiving state funds for pregnancy-related services (like counseling, testing, and postdelivery support) to provide truthful information and follow specific standards. It mandates compliance with existing transparency laws for funded advertising, adherence to medical safety standards from the AMA and ACOG, and inclusion of all FDA-approved contraceptive options in program materials. Nonprofits failing to meet these requirements lose eligibility for state funding or tax incentives. The law applies directly to organizations administering pregnancy services with Commonwealth funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of all FDA-approved contraceptives and adherence to medical safety standards for state-funded pregnancy services, ensuring comprehensive care access and truthful information.90% confidence

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