As it is almost every year, health care is one of the most important issues tackled in the Commonwealth. Challenges are faced by all types of communities (rural and urban) and people (seniors and youth). Decision-makers in the legislature and throughout state government worked to address those challenges to change citizens’ lives for the better.
Department of Health & Department of Human Services
On March 26, 2024, the Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that certified doulas may enroll as Medicaid providers and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) may enter into network agreements with them, which allows MCOs to bill directly for services offered through pregnancy and postpartum.
Also in March, DHS announced that Pennsylvania was one of nine states selected to participate in the Center for Health Care Strategies’ (CHCS) Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series. As a participant in the series, Pennsylvania will take part in peer-to-peer learning with other state Medicaid agencies to share best practices around applied implementation efforts, promoting health equity, and centering community members voices.
On July 1, 2024, Dr. Debra Bogen was confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health. Dr. Bogen had been serving as Acting Secretary since she was nominated by Governor Shapiro in June of 2023.
On August 2, 2024, Pennsylvania received approximately $58 million in federal reimbursement from the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services through the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program. MFP is a reimbursement program that allows states to leverage federal dollars to help Medicaid beneficiaries who live in long-term care facilities to instead receive services they need in the community. In 2008, MFP has helped transition 6,500 individuals into the community.
DHS selected applicants on August 22, 2024 to administer Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) Program. CHC is the Medicaid managed care program that covers adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or who qualify to receive Medicaid long-term services and supports due to a need for the level of care provided in a nursing facility. Applicants were selected through competitive procurement process for six regional zones throughout the Commonwealth.
On September 30, 2024, announced its intent to increase rates paid in its Behavioral HealthChoices (BHC) program, which provides access to mental health, substance use disorder, and other behavioral health services for Medicaid recipients. The new rates to the BHC MCOs will be retroactive to July 1, 2024 for their current 2024 contract agreements with DHS.
Legislation
HB 1795 (Gergely, D-Allegheny) was signed into law as Act 6 of 2024. The bill amends the Clinical Laboratory Act to define “source plasma donation center” and related terms and exempts those centers that perform hematocrit and total protein donor eligibility tests from the Act.
HB 1661 (Metzgar, R-Somerset) was signed into law as Act 17 of 2024. The bill classifies Xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance and provides exceptions for veterinary purposes.
HB 1754 (Mullins, D-Lackawanna) was signed into law as Act 39 of 2024. The bill requires health insurance companies and managed care plans that provide coverage under Medical Assistance (MA) or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, and management of an individual’s health condition.
SB 739 (Vogel, R-Beaver) was signed into law as Act 42 of 2024. The bill requires health insurance companies and managed care plans participating in MA or CHIP to cover health care services that are delivered through telemedicine.
HB 1633 (Frankel, D-Allegheny) was signed into law as Act 74 of 2024. The bill prohibits employers from entering into noncompete covenants with healthcare providers that would prevent them from practicing healthcare in the Commonwealth after separating from the employer.
HB 1853 (Shusterman, D-Chester) was signed into law as Act 75 of 2024. The bill requires DOH to hold a minimum of one annual meeting with nursing care facilities to discuss the surveys conducted by the Department.
HB 1993 (Benham, D-Allegheny) was signed into law as Act 77 of 2024. The bill provides requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) contracts with network pharmacies and establishes certain prohibited activities.
HB 2200 (Burns, D-Cambria) was signed into law as Act 79 of 2024. The bill requires individuals applying for a license, certificate, registration, or permit as a health care practitioner to submit fingerprints as part of a criminal history background check.
SB 559 and SB 560 (Baker, R-Luzerne) were signed into law as Act 79 and Act 80 of 2024, respectively. The bills update the services athletic trainers may provide and expand the types of individuals they may treat.
HB 155 (Sanchez, D-Montgomery) was signed into law as Act 96 of 2024. The bill allows two-way video remote technology to satisfy the face-to-face requirement for job interviews for direct care workers.
HB 2084 (Briggs, D-Montgomery) was signed into law as Act 101 of 2024. The bill amends the Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors License Act to include a definition for virtual manufacturer and to establish a license for virtual manufacturers in the Commonwealth.
HB 2127 (Fiedler, D-Philadelphia) was signed into law as Act 102 of 2024. The bill allows hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, and midwives or nurse-midwives to provide patients with a fact sheet regarding postpartum depression and counseling resources.
HB 2268 (Markosek, D-Allegheny) was signed into law as Act 104 of 2024. The bill requires health insurance companies to cover speech therapy for childhood stuttering.
SB 668 (Ward, R-Blair) was signed into law as Act 109 of 2024. The bill requires DOH to establish a medication aide training and certification program for nurse aides in long-term care facilities.
HB 1608 (Cephas, D-Philadelphia) was signed into law as Act 115 of 2024. The bill provides MA coverage to certified doulas and requires DHS to establish a Doula Advisory Board.
HB 2381 (Markosek, D-Allegheny) was signed into law as Act 119 of 2024. The bill gives licensing boards or commissions under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs that are subject to an interstate licensure compact the authority to promulgate one-time temporary regulations necessary for the implementation of each licensure compact enacted by the General Assembly.
SB 1080 (Culver, R-Colombia) was signed into law as Act 137 of 2024. The bill amends the Vital Statistics Law to authorize a practical nurse to pronounce death of an individual in hospice care.

























