Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SR 96: A Resolution recognizing the month of May 2025 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 96 recognizes May 2025 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. This resolution also states the Senate's intent to pursue policies that promote mental health for all residents, aiming for parity with physical health in resources, education, treatment, and insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly states intent to pursue mental health parity in resources, treatment, and insurance coverage, aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 583: 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 reimbursement for certain medical assistance items and services; and abrogating regulations.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to change how medical providers are reimbursed for specific services provided to public assistance recipients. It updates reimbursement rules for certain medical items and services while replacing outdated regulations that conflicted with these changes. The primary effect is on healthcare providers who bill state assistance programs, streamlining the process for claiming payments. The bill does not create new benefits but adjusts existing reimbursement procedures under public assistance programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines reimbursement for public assistance medical providers, improving access to care without expanding benefits.85% confidence

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2025

SB 411: An Act amending the act of May 29, 2012 (P.L.549, No.54), known as the Stroke System of Care Act, further providing for definitions; providing for Statewide stroke registry; and making an editorial change .

SB 411 creates a statewide stroke registry to track stroke care data across Pennsylvania hospitals. It requires comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals to submit biannual data starting in 2026, aligned with national standards like those from the American Heart Association. The registry, managed by the Department of Health, will be publicly accessible online and include stroke care metrics while prohibiting personally identifiable information. This law directly affects stroke-care hospitals and the Department of Health, which will oversee data collection, storage, and public reporting to improve stroke care quality.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates statewide stroke registry for data tracking and quality improvement, aligning with national standards to enhance stroke care outcomes under public health programs.95% confidence

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 30, 2026

HB 1123: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for coverage for colorectal cancer screening.

HB 1123 updates Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost-sharing. This affects insured residents in Pennsylvania who need preventive screenings, ensuring they face no copays or deductibles for this specific health service. The key provision mandates insurers to include coverage for colon cancer screenings as a standard benefit under casualty insurance policies. The bill passed final passage on October 29, 2025, and is now pending implementation under the Banking & Insurance committee. This change directly removes financial barriers for early detection of colorectal cancer through existing insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost colorectal cancer screening coverage under casualty insurance, expanding preventive care access without copays/deductibles per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 397: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, providing for certified EMT firefighter billing.

HB 397 (Pennsylvania) allows volunteer fire companies to directly bill insurers for emergency medical services provided by certified EMT firefighters during dispatched emergencies. It affects volunteer fire companies and insurers covering emergency medical services under health insurance policies. The bill enables fire companies to submit separate claims for services rendered at emergency scenes, prohibits insurers from requiring contracts for payment, and imposes fines for false claims ($100 for first offense, $1,000 for repeat). This amendment to the 1921 Insurance Company Law clarifies billing procedures for EMT firefighters without changing existing insurance coverage requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct billing for EMT services, removing payment barriers for emergency medical care and aligning with expanded healthcare access and coverage under insurance policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 619: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for sudden cardiac arrest and electrocardiogram testing.

SB 619 requires all coaches and school staff supervising athletic or school activities in Pennsylvania to complete annual sudden cardiac arrest training and maintain biennial CPR/AED certifications through approved organizations like the American Heart Association. It directly affects school coaches, athletic staff, and supervisors of school-sponsored activities (including practices, competitions, and noncompetitive cheerleading). Schools must document and publicly share each staff member’s certification status. The bill amends the Public School Code to standardize emergency response training for all school activities, without introducing medical testing requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cardiac emergency training for school staff, directly enhancing public health preparedness and safety in school settings.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 237: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act, further providing for title of act, for application and authority for payment and eligibility and amount of benefit and for definitions.

HB 237 expands Pennsylvania's death benefits for first responders' families to include cases where a firefighter, officer, or emergency worker dies from mental health conditions linked to on-duty trauma. It creates a legal presumption of line-of-duty death if the person died while influenced by a diagnosed psychiatric disorder from traumatic events (like crime scenes or mass casualties) or within 45 days of such exposure with an undiagnosed condition. The bill adds specific definitions for "personal injury sustained in the line of duty" to include PTSD and related disorders, and clarifies that traumatic events cover incidents involving serious injury, minors, or life threats. Benefits apply retroactively to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2019, regardless of when the trauma happened.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands death benefits to cover mental health conditions linked to on-duty trauma, supporting mental health recognition for first responders' families.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands death benefits for first responders' families to include on-duty mental health conditions, strengthening worker benefit protections and workplace safety support for emergency personnel.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 731: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for probation without verdict.

HB 731 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to allow courts to grant probation without a conviction for nonviolent drug offenses. This applies when a person pleads guilty or no-contest to a nonviolent drug offense and proves drug dependency through testimony from a physician or psychologist. The bill caps the total fines and court costs for such probation at $300, setting a clear financial limit. It directly affects low-level drug offenders who qualify for this treatment-focused sentencing option.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows treatment-focused probation without conviction for nonviolent drug offenses, reducing incarceration and promoting rehabilitation per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequiring medical evaluation for drug dependency treatment shifts focus from punishment to healthcare, aligning with treatment-focused healthcare support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Sentencing Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 493: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in general provisions, repeals and effective date, providing for acute care mental health bed registry and referrals.

HB 493 creates a web-based registry of acute care mental health beds across Pennsylvania, requiring licensed mental health facilities to submit real-time data on available beds (updated every eight hours). The registry includes facility contact details, services offered, patient admission criteria, security levels, and wait times, helping health care professionals (like doctors and nurses) quickly find appropriate beds for patients needing inpatient mental health treatment. Facilities must provide this information to join the registry, and the public will see limited, non-confidential details like available beds, services, and estimated wait times. This system aims to streamline referrals without altering existing mental health care licensing or treatment standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates real-time mental health bed registry to improve patient access to acute care facilities, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SB 53: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for conditions subject to which policies are to be issued and for health insurance coverage for certain children of insured parents.

SB 53 requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover children up to age 26, extending the previous limit of 19. It prohibits insurers from denying or restricting coverage based on factors like marital status, education, employment, or residency. The law applies to standard health insurance policies (excluding dental, disability, hospital indemnity, and similar plans) and mandates continued coverage for adult children meeting specific criteria, such as not being married or having dependents. This directly affects policyholders and their children aged 19-26 who would otherwise lose coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends health insurance coverage to children up to age 26, prohibits coverage denials based on non-medical factors, and protects patient rights in health insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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