Rep. Melissa Shusterman

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates the week of September 14 through 20, 2026, as "Birth Center Week" to highlight the role of birth centers in maternal healthcare. The measure aims to raise public awareness about these facilities, which offer low-risk, culturally competent care in a home-like setting and are noted for potentially lower costs and reduced cesarean section rates. While the resolution does not alter laws or funding, it formally acknowledges the value of birth centers in addressing maternal health disparities and improving access to care for mothers and newborns.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to give the state department authority to require child care centers to maintain financial reserves or insurance covering at least thirty days of operations. It also mandates that any child care facility planning to close must provide written notice to the department, staff, and parents at least thirty days in advance, including a plan for record preservation. Facilities that fail to give proper notice may face liability for parents' lost wages or care costs during the violation period, except in cases of declared disaster emergencies. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers and family child care homes by establishing new financial and notification requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2527 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update the definition of an 'eligible student' for early learning programs. Under the new provisions, a child qualifies if they are at least three years old, younger than the kindergarten entry age in their district, and live in a household earning no more than 400% of the federal poverty level. This legislative change directly affects eligibility criteria for early childhood education funding and services in the state.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill requires most health insurance plans to cover vaginal estrogen when used to treat menopausal symptoms or prevent urinary tract infections. The law mandates that insurers include FDA-approved drugs, devices, and combination products for this treatment, though they may still apply standard rules regarding medical necessity and patient cost-sharing. Coverage applies to new or renewed policies starting 90 days after the bill takes effect, with specific timelines for plans that do not need to file rates or forms with the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2226 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to explicitly prohibit pyramid schemes and similar deceptive promotional plans. The bill adds a new definition clarifying that schemes where participants pay to join and earn compensation primarily by recruiting others (rather than through product sales) are illegal, including "chain-letter plans," "pyramid clubs," and "pyramid promotional schemes." This change directly affects businesses operating such schemes and protects consumers from being misled by these fraudulent programs. The amendment specifically bans practices like requiring participants to pay for "opportunities" to recruit others, while excluding minimal initial payments of $25 or less.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 requires health insurance policies and government health programs in Pennsylvania to cover pelvic floor therapy and related treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction. This includes services like biofeedback, trigger point therapy, electrical stimulation, and postoperative care for prostatectomies, hysterectomies, and postpartum assessments. The coverage applies to policies issued or renewed after the bill's effective date, though insurers may still apply medical necessity standards and cost-sharing requirements. The bill directly affects all health insurance companies and government health programs (such as Medicaid) operating under Pennsylvania's insurance law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicaid programs and private health insurance plans to cover bone density screenings, preventive care, and treatments for osteoporosis specifically linked to menopause. It directly affects postmenopausal women, particularly those with low income who rely on Medicaid, by ensuring access to these services without cost barriers. The key provision mandates that both public medical assistance programs and private insurers include these osteoporosis-related services in standard coverage. This expands existing coverage to explicitly address menopause-related bone health needs.

Maddy summaryHB 2184 amends Pennsylvania's public utilities law to define "public interest" and require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider eight specific factors when making utility decisions. These factors include residential rate affordability, energy strategy (renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency), grid modernization, environmental protection, economic growth (jobs, tax revenue), reliability, and environmental justice. The bill updates existing provisions about "just and reasonable" rates (Section 1301), mandatory 60-day notice for rate changes (Section 1308), and complaint-based rate investigations (Section 1309). It directly affects all utility companies operating in Pennsylvania and the PUC, which must now document how decisions align with these public interest factors. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 550, the BPA-free Container Products for Infants Act, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of infant food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A (BPA) above 0.1 parts per billion. It requires manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA and bans substitutions with EPA-identified carcinogens or reproductive toxicants. The law applies to all containers intended for infants under one year old and will take effect 60 days after enactment. Violations would be enforced under Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, subjecting offenders to civil penalties and private lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 507, the Baby Food Protection Act, requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to test all baby food batches for toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It sets strict limits: baby food cannot exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, 5 ppb for lead or cadmium, or 2 ppb for mercury. All tested baby food must display labels showing the exact metal levels found in the batch. The bill also directs the Department to adopt lower federal limits if set by the FDA and expires if federal law matches its requirements.