Public Health and Welfare Committee 09/24/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

SB 1455 - The legislation establishes the Keystone Care Prescription Assistance Program which will enable low-income adults without prescription drug coverage to be linked to an appropriate free or low-cost prescription assistance program.  

SB 1564 - The bill creates the Keystone Care Program Act to administer and provide grants to an approved health care resource network.

HB 2625 - The legislation creates the County Access to Community-based Care and Extended Safety-net Services Program Act.   The program provides grants to community-based health improvement partnerships to conduct a community health needs assessment that results in linking county governments, the health care provider community and networks within the county and community.

The committee unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 2034 - The bill creates the Long-Term Care Patient Access to Pharmaceuticals Act that will provide patients with lower cost drugs through the Veteran’s Administration if they reside in a long-term care facility.  Amendment A09373 was offered which adds the fees a person authorized to dispense a drug may charge to repackage and relabel the drug.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 09/18/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Thursday, September 18, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SR 340:  The resolution designates November 2008 “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.

HB 2629:  The bill amends the Health Care Facilities Act by setting when final regulations must be established for licensure and operation of small residential hospices.   

The committee unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/30/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Monday, June 30, 2008, and reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 2648 – The bill extends the Health Care Cost Containment Council until December 31, 2018.  It also establishes a Health Care Cost Containment Council Act Review Committee.  Amendment A08421 was offered, which would place the sunset date to June 30, 2013.  Senator Hughes motioned for the section of the amendment that would continue the Health Care Provider Retention Program to be separated from the rest of the amendment.  The motion failed.  A vote on the amendment and the bill as amended was divided between parties 7-3.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/27/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Friday, June 27, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

SB1511- The legislation amends the Public Welfare Code by removing language that requires two-thirds of the Senate to appoint a member for the County Board of Assistance.  The bill adds that a member must have endorsement of the senator of his or her district.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/26/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Thursday, June 26, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 1497- The bill amends the Public Welfare Code by defining certain terms and requiring that the department consider pharmaceutical services as a covered benefit under both mandatory managed care and voluntary managed care.

HB 1788- This bill creates the Personal Care Homes Licensing and Inspection Reporting Act. 

SR 346- This resolution recognizes July 2008 as “Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer Month” in Pennsylvania.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/18/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 1421 - The legislation amends the Public Welfare Code by requiring proof of general liability insurance when applying for a registration certificate as well as the posting and providing in writing certain records at a family day care home. 

SR 322 - The resolution honors the Lenape Valley Foundation on its 50^th anniversary.

The following bills as amended:

SB 1372 - The bill extends the Health Care Cost Containment Council until June 30, 2018.  Amendment A07674 was offered which would change the sunset date to June 30, 2012 among other aspects.  Senator Hughes motioned to split the amendment because there was a disagreement on the interpretation of the language.  The motion failed by a vote of 7-4.  The amendment passed with a vote of 7-4 and the bill passed as amended unanimously.  

SB 1337 - The bill establishes the Medical Assistance Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee within the Department of Public Welfare.  The committee will serve the secretary in an advisory capacity to develop and maintain a preferred drug list and drug utilization review controls for prescription drugs and medical devices.  Amendment A07272 was offered which lists the duties of the peer review committee among other aspects.  The amendment and bill passed unanimously.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 04/02/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

SB 1132 - The legislation establishes the Statewide Public Cord Blood Banking Act, which would allow consenting cord blood donors to donate placental and umbilical cord blood following delivery.  Amendment A05281 was offered, which makes it so that the Department may promulgate regulations and establish fees for the administration of the act among other aspects.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 03/12/08

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SR 246 - The resolution designates April 16, 2008, as “Healthcare Decision Day” in Pennsylvania. 

HB 1320 - The bill establishes the Home-Generated Medical Sharps Disposal Act, which will implement the safe disposal of home-generated medical sharps.  

The following bills were reported out as amended:

SB 340 - The bill amends the Public Welfare Code for the reimbursement of payment for inpatient and outpatient consultations using interactive video teleconferencing. Amendment A06001 establishes that rates for telemedicine services will be the same as if they were provided in person.  

HB 883 - The legislation amends the Newborn Child Testing Act by listing additional diseases that newborn children will be tested for and receive follow-up services.  Amendment A06044 was technical and changed the effective date from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 12/05/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 and unanimously reported out the following as amended:

SB 387 (Corman) - The legislation amends the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 by requiring an issuance of certificate of stillbirth for any fetal death upon the request of a parent.  Amendment A04076 was offered which states that the certificate is not proof of a live birth.  

The committee unanimously reported out the following as committed:

SR 194 (Greenleaf) - The resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to establish a legislative task force with an advisory committee of experts on public health law to review, update and codify Pennsylvania’s public health law.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 10/17/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 and reported out the following:

SB 774 (Armstrong) - This bill creates the Long-Term Care Patient Access to Pharmaceuticals Act.  Patients will have the ability to acquire lower costs drugs if they reside in a long-term care facility as well as the repackaging and relabeling of unit doses may occur. 

HB 874 (Hershey) - The bill, known as the Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Education and Donation Act, is to educate pregnant women regarding the potential benefits of umbilical cord blood banking and provide opportunities for the donation and storage of umbilical cord blood. 

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/26/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, and reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 1367  (DeWeese) - The legislation amends the Public Welfare Code by giving the criteria for payments to county and non-public nursing facilities, apply a revenue adjustment factor, the process to acquire medical certified beds and implement assessments to facilities.  This bill also establishes a Senior Care and Services Study Commission.  A senator offered Amendment A02046, which allows the Department to promulgate emergency regulations as well as requires the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee in the Department of Public Welfare to conduct its meetings pursuant the state’s Sunshine Act.  The amendment and bill were reported out with a 10-0 vote.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 06/13/07

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported as amended (9-1)

SB 968, PN 1160 (Erickson): This bill amends the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, providing for reduction and prevention of health care-associated infection.

A technical amendment correcting a typo was adopted unanimously.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 05/22/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and reported out the following bill:

Public Health and Welfare Committee 04/25/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 167 (A. Williams) The bill creates an intergenerational family care pilot program, which seeks to aid persons who are not the biological or adoptive parents in raising children.

SB 352 (Robbins) The bill creates a stand –alone act known as the Home Energy Assistance in Time of Need (HEAT ON) Act.

SB 638 (Wonderling) The bill creates the Cancer Drug Repository Program.

SB 704 (Vance) The bill amends the Public Code to regulate assisted living residence in the Commonwealth.

SR 31 (Wonderling) The resolution recognizes the Philadelphia Health Management Corp. as a Pennsylvania Public Health Institute.

SR 92 (Brubaker) The resolution designates the week of May 20, 2007, as MRSA Awareness Week.

Reported Out as Amended

SB 8 (Wonderling) The bill creates the Medical Safety Automation Fund Act.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 03/21/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare met on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 and reported out the following bills:

SR 60, PN648:   The resolution urges the Rendell Administration and its Department of Public Welfare to continue to provide medical assistance health care through established voluntary managed care system until a comprehensive study and review of the change to a mandated Access Plus program is completed and full input is obtained from affected medical assistance consumers and health care providers.  Furthermore, an opportunity for public comment and legislative consideration take place before accountable measures are established.  The bill was reported as committed with a 11-0 vote. 

The Committee also unanimously reported out the re-nomination of Estelle B. Richman as Secretary of Public Welfare.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 03/14/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met Wednesday, March 14, 2007 and reported out the following:

SR 40:  The legislation recommends that the United States Congress reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, secure federal funding for Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program and that the Governor pursue CHIP expansion.  The resolution was reported unanimously.

The Committee also unanimously reported the re-nomination of Dr. Calvin B. Johnson as Secretary of the Department of Health.

Public Health and Welfare Committee 01/31/07

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, January 31, 2007, and reported out the following bill:

SB 246 - This legislation establishes the Clean Indoor Air Act, which would protect public health and the environment by prohibiting smoking in public places and workplaces.  Furthermore, it defines what are considered public places as well as what actions will take place for violations of the act.  A 9-2 vote was recorded and it was reported as committed.