The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from December 8 – December 12 (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents). 

General Assembly

The Senate held its final voting days for the calendar year this past week during which, the Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced SB 116, legislation by Sen. Dave Argall, which would allow high school juniors and seniors to earn course credits toward their graduation requirement for employment in a nursing facility, personal care home, assisted living residence, or hospital.

The House will return for non-voting session on December 15th when the House Communications & Technology Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1925, Rep. Arvind Venkat’s AI in Healthcare legislation.

The House will hold voting session on the 16th & 17th and on Wednesday, the House Health Committee will meet to consider HB 1202 & HB 1851. Rep. David Zimmerman’s HB 1202 would create a Commonwealth Medical Stockpile which could be accessed by healthcare facilities. HB 1851, sponsored by Rep. Gina Curry, would allow nurse-midwives to sign fetal death certificates.

Below are several healthcare-related bills or co-sponsor memos issued this week:

  • Sen. Nikil Saval introduced SB 1085 which would create a Direct Care Worker Wage Board.
  • Rep. Bryan Cutler introduced HB 2088 which would require Certificates of Merit in Healthcare liability claims.
  • HB 2096, sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove, would implement a Direct Primary Care payment model in Pennsylvania. 

Department of Health

DOH issued notice that effective January 1, 2026, the certain fees may be charged by a health care facility or health care provider in response to a request for production of medical charts or records.

The Department released Call for Cases Health Alert Network advisory for Multistate Cluster of Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae complex.

Department of Human Services

DHS launched Human Services Helpers, on the Substack platform – a media platform for video, podcasts, etc. – that will cover updates on DHS programs, news from the agency, and how organizations and partners can help their communities.

DHS shared updated RA Mailing Dates Remittance Advice (RA) Mailing Dates/Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) Delivery Dates. 

Federal Update

Click here for a review of this week’s federal activities.