The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from September 22- 26 (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents).

Budget Update 

The state budget impasse continues to drag on. This week, the Senate was not in session but the House met for non-voting session. The Senate has scheduled a non-voting session day on October 3rd and voting session on October 6th through 8th. As highlighted in this Penn Capital Star article, with transit funding handled through other means, counties and schools will become the pressure point as negotiations continue.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the creation of a $500 million loan fund for counties and Head Start providers as a bridge for funding through the budget stalemate.

General Assembly

The House will return for voting session beginning on Monday, September 29th.  For the House session week ahead, the following hearings and voting meetings are scheduled:

  • Monday, Sept. 29, 9:30am – The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on the PA CareKit Program. The Department of Aging will offer testimony.
  • Monday, Sept. 29, 10:45am – House Human Services Committee will meet to consider HR 290, a resolution recognizing the month of September 2025 as “National Recovery Month” in Pennsylvania.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 30, 10am – The House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee will hold a voting meeting to consider HB 1530 which would create privacy and transparency requirements genetic data collected through direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 30, off-the-floor – The House Health Committee will hold a voting meeting on the following legislation:
  • HB 880 – Updating and closing loopholes within Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act.
  • HR 271 – A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee and conduct a comprehensive study regarding the indoor air quality for seniors and children in this Commonwealth.

Below is some health care-related legislation introduced or co-sponsorship memos circulated this week:

  • Arvind Venkat introduced HB 1881 which would guarantee that Pennsylvania pharmacists’ vaccination practice authority can be guided by recommendations from Pennsylvania’s health authorities that may be informed by our state’s professional medical societies.
  • Rich Irvin filed a co-sponsor memo which proposed transferring the pharmacy delivery model in Medical Assistance (MA) from Managed Care back to a Fee-For-Service model as a means to impact reimbursements for pharmacies.
  • Cris Dush filed a co-sponsor memo proposing a Constitutional Amendment giving the General Assembly the authority to establish laws on venues for civil litigation in the Commonwealth as a way to address venue shopping in malpractice cases.
  • Lynda Schlegel Culver filed a co-sponsor memo to provide MA coverage for rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) for critically ill infants up to one year of age who are admitted to an inpatient intensive care unit with a complex illness.
  • Senators Michele Brooks and Lisa Boscola filed a co-sponsor memo for a resolution urging Congress to provide Pennsylvania with any and all assistance to help comply with the recent federal changes following the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued guidance to providers related to “Date of Death Recovery” following a recent audit noting recipient date of death discrepancies where recipients were deceased prior to the dates of service being billed.

DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs issued guidance for flu, RSV, and COVID vaccinations.

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) issued general immunization guidance to clinicians in response to last week’s federal ACIP meeting. The list clarifies organizations for doctors and families to consult on vaccine recommendations.

DOH issued a health alert to providers with guidance on when and how to exclude health care personnel from direct patient care when they are experiencing respiratory illness symptoms.

DOH reminded long-term care facility providers that the annual long-term care questionnaire is due by October 24. Facilities were contacted directly with instructions to complete the web-based questionnaire. Any questions should be directed to Aicha Hassane Noma at ahassaneno@pa.gov or email RA-dohbhssurveys@pa.gov.

Insurance Department

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has confirmed the private insurance companies operating in the Commonwealth will continue to cover all of the vaccines covered under ACIP’s 2024 recommendations.

Around the State  

A group of statewide researchers have compiled a website which aims to track opioid settlement fund spending data in Pennsylvania, which is driven out primarily through counties.

Stakeholder Meetings

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee

The following materials presented at the September 25th meeting of the MAAC have been posted on the MAAC website: