In addition to tabling HB 891, the House Health & Human Services Committee today reported out HB 1679 (Gerber) as amended. A motion to re-refer the bill to the Judiciary Committee by Minority Chairman Baker and Rep. Reichley failed by a party-line vote. Due to time constraints, the other two bills on the agenda were passed over. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
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Posted by rebecca | Tags: False Claims Act, Health Care | Category: House Health | Comments are closed | Share:
This morning Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario and DPW Secretary Harriet Dichter briefed the House Health and Human Services Committee on preparations for the implementation of federal health care reform measures. Speaking to the insurance implications for Pennsylvania, Commissioner Ario said the reforms are “pretty much all upside” from a financial perspective. Among the numerous areas that will be addressed, the commissioner said the establishment of a high-risk pool is among the most urgent, with a deadline of July 1. He reported Pennsylvania is getting $160 million from the federal HHS to establish a temporary high-risk pool to serve people who meet the core conditions of being uninsured for more than six months, and who have a pre-existing condition. Of the several hundred thousand people in Pennsylvania who qualify, Commissioner Ario said fewer than 10,000 will be served by the temporary pool. He said the federal government, not the state, will ultimately be responsible for paying those claims. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by mike | Tags: DPW, insurance | Category: House Health, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee heard testimony from a large spectrum of advocates and opponents of HB 2186. Much of the discussion surrounded the issues of civil liberties, the capability of certain mentally ill patients to understand their condition, and rights of family members. While some testifiers supported HB 2186, others contested that the current law needs to be funded and practiced efficiently and claimed the proposed legislation is redundant. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story. Posted by joe | Category: House Health, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
Daniel Beren, a lobbyist and former legislator who lost his wife to pulmonary fibrosis was joined by several heath professionals who presented information regarding the disease. According to the doctors, Pennsylvania has become the “mecca” for the study of pulmonary fibrosis due to the development of the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis State Registry. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by joe | Tags: Health Care | Category: House Health, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee met to consider two bills. HB 1186 and HB 1953 were unanimously reported as committed. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by matt | Category: House Health | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 2185 repealing the sunset provisions in the Children’s Health Care Act. Members also unanimously reported as amended HB 1251 regarding the processing of consumer complaints in the context of long term care insurance and HB 2041 creating the Towing Standards Act. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by jeff | Tags: Cancer, CHIP, Infrastructure, long-term care insurance, Towing Standards Act, workplace safety, World Series | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Health, House Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing this morning to discuss House Bill 1393, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. HB 1393 would allow the Department of Health to create and regulate a means of dispensing medical marijuana to individuals with specific debilitating diseases. Prime sponsor of the bill, Representative Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) suggested that the intent of the bill is to afford protections from arrest and prosecution for individuals whom with recommendation of a physician, wish to use medical marijuana to alleviate chronic pain or combat negative side effects from chemotherapy or HIV/AIDs treatments. In addition to the prime sponsor, numerous proponents and opponents of medical marijuana offered testimonies and answered committee member’s questions. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more information. The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 1616 which adds the chemical Dextromethorphan to the list of specific chemicals subject to registration under the Non-Controlled Substances Reporting and Registration Act. Also unanimously reported as committed was HR 285 directing the Department of Health to conduct a study on the accessiblity and effectiveness of sickle cell services in the Commonwealth. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by jeff | Tags: Department of Health, dextromethorphan, non-controlled substances, sickle cell anemia, uniform construction code, unions | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Gaming Oversight, House Health | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Health & Human Services Committee held a public hearing today on House Resolution 585 of 2006. HR 585 directed the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, of the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a parent panel which would study family and community access to drug and alcohol treatment programs. At the hearing, committee members heard numerous testimonies from parents of children whose lives have been severely affected by addiction and the lack of available treatment resources. The Pennsylvania Parent Panel Advisory Council (PPAC) reported its findings and recommendations to the committee, which included creating a cabinet-level position for the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more information. Posted by intern | Tags: crossbow | Category: House Gaming Oversight, House Health, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 882 providing for pharmacy audit procedures and HB 894 establishing a task force on Lyme disease and related maladies. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by jeff | Tags: Lyme disease, tuition relief, turnpike | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Gaming Oversight, House Health | Comments are closed | Share:
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