The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from March 23 –March 27 (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents). 

Budget Update

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris has introduced and begun to advance budget bills to kick off the legislative budget process for this year. HB 2400, the General Appropriations Bill, HB 2401, the Capitol Budget Bill, and HB 2402, the Capitol Budget Itemization Bill, were all introduced and moved out of the House Appropriations Committee this week along with other budget-related bills. 

Rural Health Transformation Program

The Department of Human Services has released a registration link for their Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Webinar scheduled for March 31^st at 3:30pm where the Department will share information and details on Pennsylvania’s approach to dispersing and operationalizing the $193M RHTP funds awarded to the Commonwealth. We will be joining to monitor the webinar but we encourage you to sign up as well to hear the Shapiro Administration’s plans to deploy these dollars in Year 1. 

General Assembly

Both the House and Senate were in session this week. Four new members of the House, Ana Tiburcio (D) in HD 22 from Lehigh County, Jen Mazzocco (D) in HD 42 from Allegheny County, Andrea Verobish (R) in HD 79 from Blair County, and Catherine Wallen (R) in HD 193 from Adams County were seated this week following special elections. The House still must fill a vacancy in the 196^th District from York County and will have a new vacancy at the end of the month with the resignation of Stephanie Scialabba of Butler County.

In the Senate, SB 1211, legislation to include Medicaid Fee for Service coverage for biomarker testing, passed unanimously and will now advance to the House Human Services Committee for consideration. The Senate also advanced SB 614, FQHC Preceptorship legislation, which included an amendment to broaden eligible entities and to address role of and opportunity for Rural Health Transformation Program funds to be used for this purpose, among other changes. The bill passed by a measure of 26-23, sending it to the House Health Committee. Lastly, the Senate advanced SB 804 which prohibits usage of IV solutions or medical equipment with certain additives. The bill passed 49-1 and now moves to the House Health Committee.

In the House, the House Health Committee met for a public joint hearing held along with the House Communications & Technology Committee on Tuesday examining the role of AI in Healthcare. The Health Committee met again for a voting meeting on Wednesday to consider several resolutions as well as House Bill 2265, which would require onsite, board-certified or board-eligible Emergency Physicians in all hospital emergency departments. The bill advanced out of committee with an amendment further clarifying some of the bills requirements and aligning with existing regulations, addressing some stakeholder concerns. The House also unanimously passed HB 1851 which would expand midwifery services in PA.

The following are healthcare-related bills or cosponsor memos released by legislators this past week:

• Rep. Paul Friel formally introduced HB 2315, legislation to compel the creation of regulations to allow direct primary care providers to submit referrals for individuals covered under HMO plans.
• Rep. Justin Fleming introduced a co-sponsorship memo for additional safety measures around the sale and usage of compounded GLP-1 products in PA.
• Rep. Bridget Kosierowski issued a co-sponsor memo for legislation to expand insurance coverage of wheelchair maintenance.

The House will return to session the week of April 13^th and the Senate is scheduled to return the week of April 20^th.

Department of Human Services

Check out DHS’ 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 issued the following notices in the PA Bulletin effectuating special legislative payments for certain nursing facilities as outlined by the Budget and various code bills:

• County NF Supplemental Payment for FY 25-26
• Nonprofit NF in a City of the 2^nd Class A in a County of the 3^rd Class
• Nonpublic and County NF in a City of the 1^st Class Supplemental Ventilator & Tracheostomy Care Add-On Payment for FY 2       5-26
• Nonpublic and County NF Supplemental Ventilator & Tracheostomy Care Add-On Payment for FY 25-26
• Nonpublic NF in a County of the 8^th Class Supplemental Payment
• Nonpublic NF in a County of the 1^st Class Supplemental Payment
• Nonpublic NF in a County of the 2^nd Class A Supplemental Payment

The Department released a bulletin notice for the Nursing Facility Assessment Program for FY 25-26.

Department of Health

DOH shared an announcement from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) regarding the future implementation of Track-Kit, Pennsylvania’s statewide sexual assault kit (SAK) tracking system. This change is in response to Act 122 of 2024, which directed PCCD to establish and operate a statewide system to track sexual assault kits throughout the custody and testing process.

The Department released an RFA for neurodegenerative research with a due date of April 23rd. This funding was a result of new state dollars included in last year’s budget legislation.

Stakeholder Meetings

DOH’s Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee will hold their public meeting on March 31^st from 9am-11am.

The Department of Health’s Renal Advisory Committee will hold their quarterly public meeting on April 17^th from 10am-Noon.

DOH’s Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program will hold a public teleconference on April 30^th from 10am to Noon. 

Federal Update

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