Healthcare (Long-Term Care)

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 26, 2026

SB 482: 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 definitions, for administration of assistance programs and for regulations for protection of information; in the aged, further providing for Life Program; and making a repeal.

SB 482 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to improve access to home-based and community-based services for older adults. It directly affects older Pennsylvanians seeking long-term care, LIFE program organizations, and older adult daily living centers by requiring the state department to share eligibility information with these providers and clarifying rules for Medicaid managed care enrollment. Key mechanisms include mandating that applicants receive information about LIFE programs and daily living centers after eligibility assessments, preventing Medicaid managed care assignments until after such assessments, and requiring quarterly enrollment reports by county. The bill also adds definitions for "LIFE program" and "older adult daily living center" to streamline service coordination. These changes aim to enhance transparency and access to care options without altering benefit levels or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves access to home/community-based long-term care for seniors by mandating eligibility info sharing, clarifying Medicaid enrollment, and requiring LIFE program info for applicants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 692: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in human services, further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care.

SB 692 amends Pennsylvania's medical assistance program to set limits on how payment rates can change for nursing facilities. It requires that nonpublic nursing facility payments stay at or above 90% of prior rates starting July 1, 2025, while county facility payments must maintain 100% plus any percentage change applied to nonpublic rates. These payment rate limits will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, or until a new rate-setting system replaces the current one. The bill directly affects county and nonpublic nursing facilities enrolled in Pennsylvania's medical assistance program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents funding cuts to nursing facilities by setting minimum payment rates (90% for nonpublic, 100%+ for county) in medical assistance program.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents payment rate cuts for nursing facilities, maintaining current funding levels for medical assistance programs under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 494: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for departmental powers and duties as to small personal care homes; and imposing penalties.

HB 494 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to create new rules for small personal care homes that provide daily assistance (like bathing, medication help, or meal prep) to 3 or fewer non-relatives who don’t need full long-term care. It directly affects operators and staff of these homes by requiring annual unannounced inspections, mandatory criminal background checks for all staff, and registration with the state for administrators. Key provisions include creating a state registry for homes, setting minimum care standards through new regulations, and allowing penalties for non-compliance. The bill aims to strengthen oversight while focusing on homes that serve vulnerable adults with basic care needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires safety inspections and background checks for personal care homes, enhancing resident safety and care standards in healthcare settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 950: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in long-term care, providing for premium rate increases.

HB 950 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to regulate long-term care insurance premiums. It prohibits insurers from increasing premiums based on the policyholder's age or how long they've held the policy, and caps annual renewal increases at 15% of the prior year's premium. The state insurance commissioner must disapprove increases deemed excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory, or if they exceed the 15% annual cap. Insurers may request a higher increase (over 15%) only if they demonstrate unexpected high usage of policy benefits, with commissioner approval. This directly affects long-term care policyholders and insurers operating in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates long-term care insurance premiums to prevent age-based increases and cap annual hikes at 15%, protecting consumers from excessive costs and discrimination in coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1606: 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 personal needs allowance deduction for medical assistance-eligible persons in nursing facilities.

This bill changes Pennsylvania's medical assistance rules for nursing home residents. It allows eligible individuals to keep more of their personal money by adjusting how personal needs costs (like toiletries or small purchases) are deducted from their benefits. The key provision modifies the deduction calculation so residents' own funds aren't reduced when covering these daily expenses. This directly affects nursing home residents qualifying for state medical assistance programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modifies medical assistance deductions to let nursing home residents keep more personal funds for daily needs, improving financial access without reducing benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 821: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, further providing for regulations.

HB 821 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to require the Department of Human Services to add assisted living services and supplemental health care services to the Community HealthChoices Medicaid program within 60 days. This change directly affects licensed assisted living residences, allowing them to become certified as medical assistance providers for these services. The bill mandates that the department submit necessary documentation to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the expansion. The policy change will enable these facilities to participate in the state's Medicaid program for covered services. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage by adding assisted living and supplemental health services to Community HealthChoices, increasing provider access and patient coverage under state Medicaid program.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

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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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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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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 203: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of reported patient safety events and issue a report with recommendations for reducing reportable patient safety events and improving patient safety.

HR 203 is a House Resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study medication errors and patient safety. The Commission must form an advisory committee including health officials and stakeholder representatives (like pharmacists, nurses, and hospital associations) to examine how errors occur in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and pharmacies. The study will review current state laws, other states' policies, and best practices, with a report containing recommendations due to the House within 18 months. This resolution does not change laws but aims to inform future policy through a comprehensive review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects study to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety, advancing healthcare quality standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1350: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for resident care monitoring; and imposing penalties.

HB 1350 amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to establish rules for resident-permitted electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities. It allows residents or their guardians to authorize cameras or audio devices in their rooms, requiring specific written consent forms that include privacy options (like camera obstruction) and explicit consent from all roommates. The bill mandates that residents cover installation, maintenance, and internet costs, and protects facilities from liability for privacy violations when following these procedures. This directly affects residents in nursing facilities and their guardians by creating a structured process for personal monitoring consent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables resident consent for electronic monitoring in care facilities, enhancing patient privacy rights and autonomy under healthcare facility regulations.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires privacy options (e.g., camera obstruction) and explicit consent for electronic monitoring, directly supporting data privacy in healthcare technology use.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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