The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from June 10 – 14.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents). 

Governor Shapiro

Governor Shapiro signed, among other bills, Senate Bill 721 into law this week. Senate Bill 721, now known as Act 22 of 2024, establishes the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) State Advisory Board. Find additional information in this press release. 

General Assembly

The state House of Representatives and Senate convened for voting session this week. Following is an overview of selected health care-related legislative activity that occurred.

  • The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1754, which requires public and private insurers to cover biomarker testing. The bill was subsequently sent to the Senate and reported favorably from the Banking & Insurance Committee.
  • The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1783, which requires the Department of Health to develop and publish educational material about opioid-related overdose and requires the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs to establish a grant program from the development, expansion, or improvement of recovery support services. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The House of Representatives passed House Bill 2127, which allows clinicians to distribute information related to postpartum depression and counseling resources. It also requires the Department of Health to publish those resources on its website. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The House of Representatives passed  House Bill 1021, which prohibits insurers from discriminating against individuals because they have an opioid reversal agent in their prescription profile. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee held an informational hearing on Senate Bill 840 and House Bill 2400, which both create an Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders division within the Department of Aging and establish an Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders Advisory Committee. A recording of the hearing is viewable here.
  • The House Children & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, June 11 and favorably reported, among other bills, House Bill 2175, which creates a permanent Office of Child Advocate. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The House Insurance Committee met on Tuesday, June 11 and favorably reported House Bill 1140, which expands access to contraceptives, and House Bill 2268, which provides coverage for speech therapy for stuttering. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, June 11 and favorably reported Senate Bill 965, which provides Medicaid coverage for rapid whole genome sequencing under certain conditions, and Senate Bill 1080, which allows licensed practical nurses to make death pronouncements in the hospice setting. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The Senate Banking & Insurance Committee met on Tuesday, June 11 and favorably reported, among other bills, House Bill 1664, which prohibits insurers from restricting their method of payment to solely credit card, and House Bill 1754, which requires public and private insurers to cover biomarker testing. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee met on Wednesday, June 12 and favorably reported, among other bills, Senate Bill 1251, which aligns Pennsylvania’s nursing statute with federal rules regarding accreditation. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee and the Senate Aging & Youth Committee held a combined hearing on Wednesday, June 12 regarding the status of the state’s Aging Our Way plan. A recording of the hearing is viewable here.
  • The House Health Committee met on Wednesday, June 12 and favorably reported the following bills.
    • House Bill 1993, which seeks to reform certain practices by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that have an adverse effect on pharmacies and patients,
    • House Bill 2339, which establishes hospital price transparency reporting and disclosure requirements. The bill also stipulates penalties for noncompliance.
    • House Bill 2363, which expands the existing Cancer Drug Repository Program to allow both health care facilities and individuals to donate prescription drugs (other than cancer drugs) to the program.

A recording of the meeting is viewable here.

  • The House Human Services Committee met on Wednesday, June 12 and favorably reported House Bill 2403, which updates annual reporting requirements for the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP). A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The House Judiciary Committee met on Wednesday, June 12 and favorably reported, among other bills, House Bill 2198, which caps the fees for obtaining electronic medical records. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.
  • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee met for a voting meeting on Wednesday, June 12 and favorably reported, among other bills, House Bill 2400, which creates an Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders division within the Department of Aging and establishes an Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders Advisory Committee. A recording of the meeting is viewable here.

The state House of Representatives and Senate will be in recess next week. Both chambers are scheduled to return to Harrisburg, Monday June 24.

Department of Human Services 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced it is making available for public review and comment the Office of Long-Term Living’s proposed amendment for the OBRA waiver. Find additional information in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS has also announced it is making available for public comment and review the Office of Long-Term Living’s proposed renewal for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. Find additional information in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Health Advisory (PA-HAN 753) regarding testing for influenza in persons with severe respiratory illness given the potential for severe human infections with influenza A(H5N1) viruses and the recent spread into dairy cattle. 

Stakeholder Events   

Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board – June 17

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Monday, June 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Find additional details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.