Healthcare (Women's Health)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 8, 2025

HB 26: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 35 (Health and Safety) and 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; and imposing penalties.

HB 26 removes Pennsylvania’s existing abortion statutes (including the "Abortion Control Act" and its restrictions like parental consent, spousal notice, and gestational limits) and replaces them with a new framework focused on "reproductive rights." It repeals specific provisions related to medical consultation, informed consent, facility requirements, and reporting, while adding language affirming reproductive rights for patients and providers. The bill also eliminates references to federal healthcare compliance for insurers and updates terminology, changing the chapter heading from "Abortion" to "Reproductive Offenses." This bill directly affects all abortion providers, patients, and public health systems in Pennsylvania by fundamentally restructuring the legal landscape governing abortion access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves abortion restrictions (parental consent, gestational limits), replacing them with 'reproductive rights' framework to improve access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 16, 2025

HB 1740: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in abortion, further providing for legislative intent, providing for fetal heartbeat examination and further providing for medical consultation and judgment and for abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age; and making an editorial change.

HB 1740 would prohibit abortions for pregnancies at 24 or more weeks gestational age in Pennsylvania, directly affecting medical providers performing such procedures. The bill requires medical providers to examine for a fetal heartbeat before proceeding with an abortion and mandates that medical judgment be based on that examination. It also specifies that medical consultation must address the fetal heartbeat and the patient's condition. The bill is currently referred to the Judiciary committee, with no further action taken as of July 16, 2025.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access after 24 weeks, requiring fetal heartbeat checks and limiting medical procedures - directly limiting patient healthcare access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 886: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of evidence, providing for protection of reproductive health services records.

SB 886 would protect patient records related to reproductive health services (including pregnancy care, contraception, and abortion) in Pennsylvania by requiring healthcare providers to obtain written consent before sharing such records in court, investigations, or other proceedings. It directly affects patients receiving these services and healthcare providers (referred to as "covered entities" in the bill). Key provisions include a general consent requirement for disclosure, with exceptions for court orders, legal defense, abuse investigations, or child/senior abuse reports. The law does not override existing privacy rules for other medical information or mental health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient privacy for reproductive health services (pregnancy care, contraception, abortion) by requiring consent before record disclosure, advancing patient rights in healthcare.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires written consent for disclosure of reproductive health records, directly protecting patient data privacy - a core aspect of technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HR 24: A Resolution designating January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to recognize all the women who die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth.

House Resolution 24 designates January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to honor women who have died from pregnancy or childbirth complications. The resolution aims to raise public and healthcare awareness about maternal mortality, particularly highlighting racial disparities where Black women in Pennsylvania face a maternal mortality rate of 163 deaths per 100,000 live births - over twice the rate of other groups. It does not create new laws or funding but encourages community and healthcare engagement through designated awareness activities. This symbolic gesture aligns with Pennsylvania’s existing Maternal Mortality Review Committee efforts established under Act 24 of 2018.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDesignates Maternal Health Awareness Day to address racial disparities in maternal mortality, raising public awareness to improve healthcare outcomes and highlight systemic issues in maternal care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2025

HB 1569: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program.

HB 1569 establishes a Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program within Pennsylvania's health and safety statutes. The program would temporarily test new approaches to tracking maternal health outcomes, directly affecting pregnant individuals and healthcare providers in participating communities. Key provisions include creating a structured data collection system to monitor maternal health metrics during pregnancy and postpartum, with the goal of identifying gaps in care. The pilot is designed to run for a limited time to evaluate effectiveness before potential broader implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes maternal health monitoring to identify care gaps and improve outcomes, advancing maternal healthcare services through structured data collection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 1642: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bases of jurisdiction and interstate and international procedure, further providing for assistance to tribunals and litigants outside this Commonwealth with respect to service and for issuance of subpoena; in commencement of proceedings, further providing for authority of officers of another state to arrest in this Commonwealth; and, in detainers and extradition, further providing for definitions, for duty of Governor with respect to fugitives from justice and for presigned waiver of extradition.

HB 1642 amends Pennsylvania's judicial statutes to prohibit state courts, law enforcement, and officials from assisting with legal actions involving "reproductive health care services" that are lawful in Pennsylvania. Specifically, it blocks Pennsylvania courts from ordering service of documents or issuing subpoenas for cases outside the state related to such services (including abortion care), prevents officers from arresting individuals for out-of-state offenses involving these services, and requires governors to withhold extradition for such cases. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" broadly to cover medical, surgical, or counseling services related to pregnancy, contraception, or abortion that are legal in Pennsylvania. These changes apply only to cases involving services permitted under Pennsylvania law, not to all out-of-state legal matters. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBlocks state courts from assisting with reproductive health care legal actions, restricting access to abortion services as defined in the bill's summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1641: An Act amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, in insurance, providing for adverse actions against legal reproductive health care.

HB 1641 prohibits Pennsylvania medical liability insurers from taking adverse actions against healthcare providers who offer legal reproductive health services, including abortion care via telemedicine, to out-of-state patients. It specifically bans insurers from refusing coverage renewals, raising premiums, or reporting providers solely for providing such services that comply with Pennsylvania law. The law applies to providers prescribing medication to terminate pregnancies for out-of-state patients using telemedicine. This directly affects insurers and healthcare providers serving patients in states with stricter abortion laws, preventing insurance penalties for legal telemedicine care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from penalizing providers offering legal reproductive care, protecting access to abortion services and advancing patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1844: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in abortion, further providing for definitions and for medical consultation and judgment.

HB 1844 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code (Title 18) to clarify definitions related to abortion and establish requirements for medical consultation and judgment in abortion cases. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who perform abortions by setting legal standards for patient consultations and medical decision-making. Key provisions include adding specific definitions to reduce ambiguity in abortion-related criminal cases and mandating that medical decisions be based on professional judgment and patient consultation. The bill was referred to the Health committee on September 9, 2025, for further review.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates medical consultation requirements for abortion providers, restricting access to abortion services under healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 884: An Act amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, in insurance, prohibiting certain adverse actions against legal reproductive health care.

SB 884 amends Pennsylvania's MCare Act to prohibit health insurance companies from taking negative actions against healthcare providers who offer legal reproductive health services, including telemedicine prescriptions for pregnancy termination to out-of-state patients. The bill specifically bans insurers from refusing to renew policies, raising premiums, or making other unfavorable changes solely because a provider offers such services permitted under Pennsylvania law. It defines "adverse actions" to include contract terminations, negative reporting to authorities, and coverage changes. This directly affects medical liability insurers and providers offering reproductive care, ensuring they cannot face financial penalties for serving patients from other states legally. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from taking adverse actions against providers offering legal reproductive health services, protecting patient access to care under Pennsylvania law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 17, 2025

HB 1962: An Act prohibiting State agencies from providing funding and contracting with a person who provides or is affiliated with another person who provides abortion-related activities; requiring a person enrolled in a medical assistance program to attest that the person is not engaging in abortion-related activities; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services.

HB 1962 prohibits state agencies from providing funding or entering contracts with individuals or entities that provide or are affiliated with abortion-related activities. It requires people enrolled in medical assistance programs to certify they are not engaging in such activities. The bill also mandates the Department of Human Services to establish procedures for verifying these attestations and enforcing the restrictions. These provisions directly impact state-funded programs, healthcare providers receiving state contracts, and medical assistance beneficiaries. The bill is currently under review by the Health committee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits state funding for abortion-related healthcare services and restricts medical assistance program access to those engaging in such activities, directly limiting healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track