This bill establishes school-based health centers in Pennsylvania public, private, and parochial schools to provide accessible medical care to students. These centers must remain open during school hours and cannot deny care based on a student's ability to pay, insurance status, or existing primary care provider. While the specific services offered are determined by the school district or private governing body, the centers are required to coordinate with outside providers and maintain strict confidentiality for medical records. Additionally, the legislation creates a statewide advisory council to oversee these centers and mandates that the state education department develop regulations in consultation with stakeholders.
This Pennsylvania House resolution designates October 20, 2026, as Community Health Worker Awareness Day to honor the contributions of community health workers throughout the state. The bill aims to raise public awareness about these trusted professionals who help residents navigate healthcare systems, access resources, and manage health conditions. While the resolution does not create new laws or funding, it formally recognizes the vital role these workers play in improving community health and encourages continued investment in their training and support.
This bill allows Pennsylvania residents to voluntarily donate $5 when they renew their driver's licenses or vehicle registrations online. The funds collected will go exclusively to the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to help provide communication access services for those individuals. The donation is optional and will be added to the regular renewal fee, with annual reports required to track how much money is raised and how it is spent.
This Senate Resolution designates August 31, 2026, as "Overdose Awareness Day" throughout Pennsylvania to raise awareness about drug overdoses and reduce the stigma associated with them. The bill does not create new laws or change regulations but instead asks the Governor to issue a proclamation and order flags to be flown at half-staff on that date. Its primary effect is symbolic, aiming to honor those affected by overdose and encourage community support for individuals struggling with addiction.
This bill requires dental insurance companies in Pennsylvania to create secure online portals that give dental providers and their staff daily access to detailed patient benefit information, including claims history and denial reasons. The legislation mandates that any verbal or written statements made by insurers regarding benefits or costs must be binding on future claims, with specific exceptions for fraud or eligibility changes. To enforce these rules, the bill allows providers to sue for the original billed amount if insurers fail to pay within 30 days and imposes administrative fines of up to $10,000 for non-compliance. The changes are designed to increase transparency and reduce billing disputes, and they will take effect one year after the bill is enacted.
HB 2710, known as the Tick-Borne Disease Reporting Act, requires healthcare providers and facilities in Pennsylvania to report cases of babesiosis, a tick-transmitted infection, through the state's electronic disease surveillance system. The bill also mandates that clinical laboratories report positive test results for the disease via an electronic laboratory reporting system. To support these reporting requirements, the legislation imposes duties on the Department of Health and relevant licensing boards to ensure compliance and requires health care practitioners to complete continuing education on diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases. This law aims to improve the tracking and management of tick-borne illnesses by making babesiosis a reportable condition in the state.
This Senate resolution designates June 23, 2026, as Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day in Pennsylvania to honor the condition and promote public understanding. The bill directly affects residents of the Commonwealth by encouraging them to learn about this rare and severe form of epilepsy that impacts approximately 1 in 15,700 people worldwide. It does not alter laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the challenges faced by individuals with the disorder, their families, and caregivers. The resolution calls for increased awareness and support for those working to improve diagnosis, treatment, and research for this lifelong condition.
This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study suicide prevention and data collection efforts in Pennsylvania and provide recommendations for improvement. The study will specifically examine how well the state has met eight existing suicide prevention goals and analyze the Pennsylvania Violent Death Reporting System to identify barriers like lack of mandatory reporting and insufficient funding. The commission is tasked with proposing legislative actions to ensure medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement agencies consistently report violent death data to the Department of Health.
SB 1409 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish specific rules for how health insurers handle mental health treatments. The bill creates new definitions for "behavioral health crisis" and "serious mental illness," which includes conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Under these new rules, insurers can only require patients to try one alternative drug before approving a prescribed medication for serious mental illnesses, and they cannot require prior authorization or step therapy for drugs used during a behavioral health crisis if those drugs are FDA-approved and evidence-based. These changes will apply to new insurance policies starting January 1, 2027.
This Senate Resolution designates the week of July 20 through 24, 2026, as "Construction Opioid Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania to highlight the high rate of opioid-related deaths in the construction industry. The bill encourages construction companies and organizations to use this time to educate workers about the dangers of opioid abuse and to facilitate discussions and events like drug take-back programs. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal designation to promote awareness among contractors, unions, and safety organizations within the state.
