Health & Human Services 2021-2022

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The Senate Health & Human Services held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 a joint public hearing on Senate Bill 749:

The Senate Health & Human Services and Aging & Youth Committees held a joint public hearing on Wednesday, September 15, 2021

The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing to discuss Part 1 of the Department of Health’s proposed long-term care nursing facility regulations (#10-221).

The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing on Monday, August 23, 2021

The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing to discuss the Department of Human Services’ intent to contract with Maximus as its independent enrollment broker (IEB) and the impact this will have on seniors and adults with disabilities.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met today, June 21, 2021 to consider the following bills:

HB 1500 (Representative Klunk) – Amends the Abortion Control Act by prohibiting an abortion based on a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome. Reported out as committed 7-4

SB 709 (Senator Tomlinson)– Establishes the CMV (cytomegalovirus) Education and Newborn Screening Act, providing for CMV education and newborn screening. Reported out as committed 11-0 

HB 944 (Nelson) – Amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to provide duties to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to require inpatient treatment facilities to provide notification to an emergency contact when a patient leaves a treatment facility against medical advice.

Reported out as amended 11-0

Amendment- A01899 (Sen. Brooks)– Clarifies the notice requirements and removes liability related to the notice requirement for inpatient treatment facilities. A01899 passed 11-0

HB741 (Representative Heffley) – Amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to provide duties to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to require drug and alcohol recovery houses provide notification to an emergency contact when a resident leaves a recovery. Reported out as amended 11-0

Amendment A01900 (Sen. Brooks)– Clarifies the notice requirements and removes liability related to the notice requirement for drug and alcohol recovery houses. A01900 passed 11-0

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on Monday, May 24, 2021 to consider the following bills:

SB618 (Senator Phillips-Hill)– Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for vaccinations by prohibiting the requirement of vaccine passports in Pennsylvania.  Reported out as committed 6-4.

SB620 (Senator Brooks & Senator Cappelletti) – Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in COVID-19 disaster emergency, providing for COVID-19 vaccine by adding a local pharmacy inclusion rule for vaccine distribution. Reported out as committed 7-3.

SB621 (Senator Brooks) – Amends Title 35 Health and Safety of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in COVID-19 disaster emergency, providing for COVID-19 vaccine by requiring COVID-19 vaccine providers to advertise their allocation in the newspaper. This bill initially failed 5-5, at the end of the meeting there was a motion to reconsider the vote taken. The motion to reconsider passed 6-4.  The HHS Committee went over the bill.

SB671 (Senator Hutchinson) – Provides for the retainment of health care innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposes duties on the Joint State Government Commission.  Reported out as committed at committed 9-1.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met today, March 23, 2021 to consider the following bills:

HB 203 (Representative Toohil) – Establishes the Living Donor Protection Act which prohibits discrimination by health or life insurers based upon an individual’s status as a living donor and extends FMLA provisions to living donors.  Reported out as committed unanimously.

SB 108 (Senator Bartolotta) – Amends Section 443.1 (Medical Assistance Payments for Institutional Care) of the Human Services Code by providing additional Medicaid funding for facilities serving ventilator or tracheostomy patients.  Reported out as committed unanimously.

SB 156 (Senator Mensch) – Establishes a new category of Medical Assistance for Worker with Disabilities called Workers with Job Success by amending the Tobacco Settlement Act. Reported out as committed unanimously.

SB 317 (Senator Browne) – Establishes the Expediated Partner Therapy Act, authorizing health practitioners to prescribe or provide antibiotics to treat sexually transmitted infections without requiring a medical examination. Reported out as committed unanimously.

Aging & Youth and Health & Human Services Committee held a joint public hearing on implementation of the State Vaccination Plan on February 4, 2021