Healthcare (Healthcare Workforce)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SR 296: A Resolution designating the week of May 6 through 12, 2026, as "Nurses Week" in Pennsylvania.

This Senate Resolution officially designates the week of May 6 through 12, 2026, as Nurses Week in Pennsylvania. The measure aims to recognize the contributions of the state's large nursing workforce, which includes over 240,000 registered nurses and other licensed practitioners. By aligning with National Nurses Week, the resolution highlights the critical role nurses play in the Commonwealth's healthcare delivery system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors nurses, critical healthcare workers, recognizing their vital role in the healthcare delivery system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 2485: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, providing for trauma-informed records program; and imposing a penalty.

This bill requires Pennsylvania schools participating in the School Safety and Security Grant Program to create electronic records tracking traumatic events and adverse childhood experiences for students. These records, overseen by a mental health professional or trained administrator, will include information from law enforcement, medical providers, and school support services, organized into three tiers of access to protect sensitive data. The legislation strictly limits how this information can be used, prohibiting its use for student admissions or in criminal proceedings while ensuring confidentiality. Schools must develop individualized support plans based on these records to better assist students affected by trauma, with access granted only to authorized staff and parents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a trauma-informed records program to support student mental health and safety, enhancing educational access and well-being.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates trauma-informed records and integrates mental health professionals, directly supporting mental health services and student well-being.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2335: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for definitions and for scope of practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to update the legal definitions and scope of practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). It allows CRNAs to perform anesthesia services under the overall direction of a physician, podiatrist, or dentist who is present and available onsite during the procedure. The legislation grants CRNAs expanded authority to prescribe and administer certain medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and manage patient care throughout the anesthesia process, including preoperative preparation, induction, maintenance, and post-anesthesia care. These changes formalize the professional responsibilities of CRNAs within the state's nursing regulatory framework without altering the requirement for collaborative oversight by licensed medical professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands CRNA scope of practice, improving patient access to anesthesia services and enhancing healthcare delivery capabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2267: 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, providing for possession and use of prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.

This bill allows secondary school students in Pennsylvania with cystic fibrosis or pancreatic insufficiency to carry and self-administer prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) at school. To qualify, students must provide a doctor's order, a parent's request, and written acknowledgments from both the school nurse and the student confirming they understand safety precautions. Schools may restrict self-administration if students fail to follow rules or safeguard the medication, but must then ensure the medication is stored in an accessible location with clear access instructions. The law also requires schools to adopt written policies outlining documentation processes, storage locations, and limits on daily supply quantities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing students with cystic fibrosis to safely self-administer necessary medication at school, supporting student health and learning.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows students with cystic fibrosis to carry and self-administer prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy at school, improving patient access to necessary healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2285: 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 health services; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for State reimbursement for health services.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require that every school building attended by students be assigned at least one school nurse, reducing the maximum number of students per nurse from 1,500 to 750. It also adjusts state reimbursement rates for school health services, increasing the per-student funding amount for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Health use up to $3 million in grants to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to school entities, with grant amounts proportional to student enrollment. These changes directly affect school districts, the Department of Health, and students across Pennsylvania's public school system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases school nurse staffing ratios and expands health services funding, directly supporting student well-being and educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases school nurse staffing ratios and provides additional funding for health services, directly strengthening healthcare access in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2025

SB 903: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for alcohol and other drug addiction continuing education.

This bill requires healthcare professionals in Pennsylvania to complete continuing education on alcohol and drug addiction as a condition of license renewal starting November 1, 2025. The program applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners and mandates at least 10 hours of training covering addiction identification, referral procedures, and support group resources. Healthcare licensing boards will enforce this requirement and may grant waivers for individuals facing serious illness, military service, or other hardships. The education must include training on a specific referral protocol called "warm handoff" that connects patients from emergency care to specialty treatment services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates continuing education on addiction for healthcare professionals, improving patient care and addressing a critical health issue through enhanced provider training.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 2173: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, further providing for definitions, for respiratory therapists, for perfusionist, for genetic counselor and for prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists and orthotic fitters; providing for medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants and trainees; further providing for licenses and certificates and general qualification; repealing provisions relating to radiologic procedures and education and training required; and making a repeal.

HB 2173 updates Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act of 1985 by adding new definitions and licensing requirements for medical imaging professionals. It specifically creates licensing categories for roles like medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants, and trainees, defining their scope of practice (including modalities such as MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine). The bill removes outdated provisions about radiologic procedures and education requirements while establishing certification standards through recognized medical imaging certification organizations. This directly affects healthcare workers performing imaging procedures, requiring them to obtain board licenses based on their certified modalities. The changes clarify professional responsibilities and ensure consistent training standards for these healthcare roles.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates licensing for medical imaging professionals and defines scope of practice, standardizing care and ensuring qualified providers, strengthening regulatory framework for healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 5, 2026

HB 2117: 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 definitions, for possession and use of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, for school access to emergency epinephrine and for administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by school bus drivers and school crossing guards.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow students with asthma or severe allergies to possess and self-administer their prescribed asthma medications (including inhalers) and epinephrine auto-injectors at school. Schools must create written policies requiring students to demonstrate self-administration capability and notify the school nurse after use, while ensuring medications are stored safely and accessible only to authorized students. The bill also permits trained school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to administer epinephrine auto-injectors in emergencies for students experiencing allergic reactions or asthma attacks. These changes aim to improve student safety by ensuring timely access to life-saving medications during school hours.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables student self-administration of essential health medications (asthma inhalers, epinephrine), ensuring safety and uninterrupted school attendance - directly protecting educational access for students with health conditions.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows students to self-administer prescribed asthma/epinephrine medications at school, improving access to emergency healthcare services and ensuring safe management of chronic conditions in educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Student Health Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2164: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for medical assistance for complex care assistant services.

HB 2164 would create a program allowing family members of Pennsylvania medical assistance recipients to become certified complex care assistants. These family members would provide specific medical services at home - such as feeding, catheter care, and medication administration - under a registered nurse's supervision after completing 75 hours of training and passing a competency evaluation. The program targets recipients under 21, those eligible for private duty nursing, or those needing both services for medical reasons, with home health agencies reimbursed at a minimum of $45 per hour. It explicitly requires the services to supplement, not replace, existing private duty nursing under the medical assistance program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates program expanding home-based medical care access for vulnerable populations through family caregivers under nurse supervision, improving patient access to complex care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2182: 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 drug overdose medication.

HB 2182 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to allow emergency medical services (EMS) providers to administer opioid overdose medications, specifically naloxone and nalmefene, as part of their standard practice. The bill requires the Department of Health to update EMS provider regulations to include these medications within their scope of practice. This change directly affects EMS personnel by enabling them to respond to opioid overdoses more effectively without needing additional authorization during emergencies. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows EMS to administer naloxone/nalmefene for opioid overdoses, improving emergency response and access to life-saving treatment under public health framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

Track