This legislation would align the regulations of the Health Care Facilities Act to cover all providers of pregnancy related services. It would ensure that there are safeguards and securities for any organization offering pregnancy-related services by requiring all organizations to meet healthcare related regulations and patient safety provisions. This bill would also ensure that organizations receiving taxpayer dollars are required to disclose the use of those dollars in the advertisement, and ensure information provided during the provision of their services is medically accurate. With Pennsylvania’s maternal mortality rate on the rise, it is our responsibility to protect the health outcomes of pregnancies for our constituents.

Sponsored by Senator Hughes and the Senate Democratic Caucus

This legislation would codify the federal essential health benefits (EHB) into state law. Before the ACA imposed EHB, three in five people had an insurance policy that did not provide maternity coverage and one in three policies did not cover substance abuse treatment. Under the proposal, the ten essential health benefits (EHBs) currently covered by the ACA would be placed into state law. The benefits the legislation would include are: ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance use disorder services including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

Sponsored by Senator Schwank

This legislation would add “severe maternal morbidity” to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Severe maternal morbidity is a category of health conditions that complicate pregnancy, including unexpected outcomes of labor delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health, which sometimes results in death, sometimes an instance of maternal mortality. In 2014, maternal morbidity affected 50,000 women in the United States and has been steadily increasing since that time. This bill would categorize maternal deaths and severe maternal morbidity complications as reportable events. The Maternal Mortality Review Committee would submit a report including each reportable event to the department.

Sponsored by Senator Collett

This legislation would ban the use of non-disclosure agreements which mask the names of Members of the General Assembly who are accused of harassment if the complaint is credible; Require that credibly accused members of the Legislature be held accountable to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania and require that they repay any settlements that were paid with taxpayer dollars; Require that paid administrative leave, remote work assignments, and reimbursement for licensed professional counseling be offered to employees during the entire adjudication of the proceedings; Establish procedures for keeping the investigatory, prosecutorial, and adjudicatory functions separate as required under Pennsylvania law; Establish a new section of procedures for promulgating temporary regulations to facilitate the prompt implementation of this new section; Combine the settlement provisions with provisions relating to the source of payment, the personal liability of elected officials, and the payment of awards.

Sponsored by Senator Schwank

This legislation would require schools to teach 7-12 grade students to identify and prevent dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking to help equip young people with these important skills. Education to teens on dating violence and sexual violence may be extremely comprehensive in one school, but completely absent from another. Consistent policies and requirements on a school’s responsibility for ensuring education will ensure all schools are working to increase students’ awareness on dating and sexual violence.

This legislation would put safety parameters around crisis pregnancy centers data collection and prohibit them from sharing personal information without written permission of the individual. While health care providers in the U.S. are subject to information disclosure provisions under HIPAA, crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which typically do not provide any health care services, are not required to provide any similar privacy protections. A recent investigation shows that umbrella organizations use CPCs to collect and store extensive personal client data to essentially create “digital dossiers” to surveil and attempt to influence every person who interacts with a CPC.

Sponsored by Senator Lisa Boscola

This legislation would amend The Insurance Company Law of 1921 by adding language that will provide for the coverage of infertility treatments and medication. The legislation would prohibit insurance companies from imposing any exclusions, limitations, or other restrictions on coverage of infertility drugs that are different from those imposed on any other prescription drugs.

Sponsored by Senator Schwank 

would expand Medicaid for Postpartum Women. In Pennsylvania, pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility ends 60 days postpartum. As such, many women are left without coverage and are at a greater risk of losing access to critical health services during a time of unmet maternal health needs. By extending Medicaid coverage, health issues that are of high risk to mothers can be addressed, and the number of preventable maternal deaths can be reduced. States that have already extended Medicaid coverage for postpartum women under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have experienced a 50 percent greater reduction in infant mortality than states that have not. This legislation would require the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to apply for a waiver that would extend Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related and postpartum medical assistance for up to an additional ten months. This will ensure mothers continue to have access to the necessary services and support for both themselves and their children.

Sponsored by Senators Collett and Cappelletti

This legislation would require Pennsylvania’s public agencies that serve those who are young, low-income, homeless, or incarcerated to make Menstrual Products (MPs) available at no cost. Pennsylvania was one of the first states to remove the so-called “pink tax” of MPs in 1991, acknowledging that these items are a necessity to ensure the health, dignity – and equity – of millions of Pennsylvanians.

Sponsored by Senator Schwank

This legislation would create the Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board (WICSAB). The WICSAB will be comprised of regional Women, Infants and Children (WIC) agencies, agency partners, advocates, grocers, health care providers and participants. The board will be tasked to advise DOH on the operation of programs to increase enrollment and utilization, such as proper implementation of ARP funds for technology and data improvements, thus improving the access and availability to those served.

Sponsored by Senator Santarsiero

This legislation would require institutions of higher education to provide students and employees with a written notification of rights, protective measures, and accommodations afforded to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Colleges and Universities have a unique responsibility to provide resources and support to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence that occur on their campuses. These institutions need to do a better job of educating students about the resources currently available and providing reasonable accommodations to victims. This bill is based on a proposal that was originally part of the White House’s “It’s on Us” Campaign to End Sexual Assault on Campus.

Sponsored by Senator Cappelletti

This legislation would require certain employer-sponsored insurance plans to cover infertility services. According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 19 states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws. Each of Pennsylvania’s border states has an infertility insurance coverage mandate. Data shows that costs associated with expanded access are nominal and offset when more people get covered.