House Democratic Caucus, 2009-2010 Policy Agenda

Accessible And Affordable Health Care

Provide Pennsylvanians access to quality, affordable health care while containing costs.
  • H.B. 1 (Eachus) would expand access to basic care by building upon the existing adultBasic Program. Status: Passed House on 6/29/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 84 (DeLuca) would keep any health-care provider responsible for causing serious medical error from seeking payment to cover the cost of that error or for any service needed to correct or treat a problem caused by error. Status: Signed into law on 6/10/09 to become Act 1 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 173 (Eachus) would reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Status: Senate version signed into law on 6/10/09 to become Act 3 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 528 (DeLuca) would require pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania to be registered by the State Board of Pharmacy. Status: Passed House on 3/8/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 602 (Pashinski) would allow dental assistants to perform additional services and treat more patients. Status: Signed into law on 4/29/10 to become Act 19 of 2010. Latest News Release.  ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 620 (Curry) would create standard of care for Pennsylvanians with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Status: Passed House on 8/5/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 746 (DeLuca) would reform the small group insurance market in Pennsylvania. Status: Passed House on 6/29/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 816 (Pashinski) would expand Pennsylvania’s heart disease and stroke program. Status: Passed House on 3/17/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 838 (Longietti) would enable an insured parent the option to retain a child on a health care policy until the age of 29. Status: Senate version signed into law on 6/10/09 to become Act 4 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1041 (Kula) would expand drug therapy management to non-institutional settings. Status: Signed into law on 6/1/10 to become Act 29 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1089 (Matzie) would provide increased coverage for Pennsylvanians by implementing the federal COBRA continuation of health insurance coverage rules for small group plans. Status: Signed into law on 6/10/09 to become Act 2 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1480 (Pallone) would exempt economic stimulus payments from PACE and PACENET eligibility. Status: Passed House on 6/9/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1593 (Matzie) would create a Health Insurance Coverage Parity and Non-Discrimination Act. Status: Passed House on 10/6/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1764 (Payton) would make acupuncture more accessible. Status: Passed House on 6/21/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1865 (Burns) would ensure parity in health-care coverage for cancer patients. Status: Passed House on 6/14/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2106 (Taylor) would improve health-care outcomes and save the Commonwealth millions of dollars by creating a statewide e-medical records system. Status: Passed House on 9/27/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2157 (Boyle) would create the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Commission to control costs and create a more enhanced quality of life for those with chronic diseases. Status: Passed House on 9/13/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2368 (Harhai) would better assure consumers of the financial solvency and stability of their health insurance providers. Status: Passed House on 6/15/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2392 (Shapiro) would strengthen Pennsylvania's mini-COBRA law to continue health insurance coverage and extend federal subsidies to those who worked for small businesses and lost their jobs. Status: Passed House on 4/27/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2521 (DeLuca) would provide transparency in the billing of medical expenses for pathology services. Status: Signed into law on 11/23/10 to become Act 121 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED

Promote independence opportunities for seniors, including at-home care from family, friends and neighbors.
  • H.B. 245 (Mundy) would expand access to the PA Family Caregiver Support Program. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1152 (Mundy) would establish the Department of Aging and Long-Term Living. Status: Passed House on 6/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION

Protect vulnerable seniors from physical and financial abuse, neglect and exploitation.
  • H.B. 56 (K. Smith) would require employees and administrators at assisted living and long-term care facilities to report any patient neglect cases within 48 hours to protective service agencies, such as area agencies on aging. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 282 (Walko) would allow prosecutors to file criminal charges of neglect against owners or staff of personal care homes that have three or fewer adults unrelated to the owner. Status: Passed House on 3/16/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 288 (Murphy) would allow county agencies on aging to investigate cases in which a senior was financially exploited, even if the alleged perpetrator held power of attorney for the senior. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 309 (Johnson) would mandate that attending or primary care physicians at nursing or assisted living facilities must inform current or prospective residents, their family and legal guardian about any financial interest the physician has in the care facility. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 372 (Staback) would amend the Health Care Facilities Act to better assist in long-term nursing home oversight. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 373 (Wansacz) would create specific penalties for the neglect of care-dependent individuals that results in death. Status: Passed House on 6/3/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1251 (D. Costa) would assure senior citizens of an avenue to appeal long-term insurance claims denied by an insurance company. Status: Signed into law on 7/9/10 to become Act 51 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1376 (Pashinski) would require the state Insurance Department to conduct financial examinations at continued care retirement communities. Status: Passed House on 6/8/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION

Assist returning military personnel and aging veterans in managing physical, mental health and financial matters.
  • H.B. 339 (Murphy) would give active-duty National Guard and U.S. military reservists preference for state job-training programs once they return home from service. Status: Passed House on 3/30/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 592 (Grucela) would ensure that members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and reservists who are attending college would not be penalized academically if they are deployed before the end of a semester. Status: Passed House on 6/3/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 929 (Grucela) would authorize school boards to establish a program known as Operation Recognition for Vietnam veterans to be granted a high school diploma. Status: Part of comprehensive bill that was signed into law on 11/22/10 to become Act 104 of 2010.   Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1838 (Santarsiero) would provide real estate tax relief to disabled veterans. Status: Passed House on 6/30/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2161 (Staback) would make it easier for members of the military to get a hunting license when on leave or returning from deployment. Status: Passed House on 3/16/10 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2357 (Pallone) would declare March 30 of every year “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”.Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION

Encourage medical research and development to fight disease and keep Pennsylvania a national leader in health sciences.
  • H.B. 85 (DeLuca) would require insurance companies to cover the cost of routine care for patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials. Status: Passed House on 3/17/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION