October 6th, 2008

Week of October 6

House

Committee Schedule

House Appropriations – Meetings have been sunshined for October 6, 7, and 8; no agendas announced

House Insurance

Monday, 10/6/08

Off the Floor, Room 39, East Wing

SB 1422 (White, D) – Amends the Insurance Company Law to create a mini-cobra small employer group health plan. 

SB 1453 (Corman) – Amends the Insurance Company Law to extend insurance coverage for adult dependent children up to the age of 30. 

[Neither of these bills are on the House Voting Schedule (HVS), so the earliest that these bills could be voted would be Wednesday, if they are placed on the HVS on Monday.] 

House Democratic Policy Committee

Tuesday, 10/7/08, 9 am, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Hearing on PA Access to Basic Care

House Floor Schedule

According to House Democratic Caucus Legislative Schedule these bills of interest are scheduled to be considered next week:

HB 1462 (DeLuca) – Act providing for insurance coverage for patient costs associated with cancer clinical trials.  This bill is on second consideration.

HB 2182 (Staback) – Amends the Public Welfare Code further providing for onsite complaint investigations and plans of correction.  MCare abatement extension amendment posted to the bill.

SB 550 (White, D) – Amends the Insurance Company Law further providing in health and accident insurance, for autism spectrum disorders coverage and for treatment of autism spectrum disorders, and further providing for procedures. MCare abatement extension amendments posted to the bill.

Healthcare related bills that remain on the House Calendar, but are not listed in the House Voting Schedule:

HB 2026 (Pickett) – Amends the Insurance Company Law, mini-cobra

HB 2028 (Stern) – Amends Health Care Cost Containment Act

HB 2209 (Shapiro) – Amend the Insurance Company Law by adding a clause to allow organization of community health networks for the purpose of obtaining group health insurance

Senate

Committee Schedule

Senate Appropriations

Monday, 10/6/08, 10 am, Hearing Room 1, North Office Building

Public hearing to discuss the state’s revenue performance and outlook.

Senate Appropriations

Monday, 10/6/08, Off the Floor, Rules Room

SB 1455 (McIlhinney) – Act establishing the Keystone Care Prescription Assistance Program in the Department of Public Welfare to provide prescription drug assistance and making an appropriation

SB 1564 (Brubaker) – Act establishing the Keystone Care Program in the Department of Health to provide grants for health care services and making an appropriation.

HB 834 (Surra) – Mandatory overtime for health care employees.

HB 2034 (Bear) – Act providing for long-term care patient access to pharmaceuticals and conferring powers and duties on the State Board of Pharmacy

HB 2098 (DeLuca) – Act establishing a system for payment or reduction in payment for preventable serious adverse events.

Senate Banking and Insurance

Tuesday, 10/7/08, 9 am, Hearing Room 1, North Office Building

Public hearing on the proposed merger of Highmark and IBC

Senate Floor Schedule:

Bills on Second Consideration:

SB 1564 (Brubaker) – Act establishing the Keystone Care Program in the Department of Health to provide grants for health care services and making an appropriation.

HB 2626 (Pallone) – Act establishing the County Access to Community-based care and extended safety-net services program in the Department of Health and setting criteria for eligibility for counties and health care providers.

Bills on Third Consideration:

SB 5 (Erickson) – Act establishing the Community-Based Health Care (CHC) program in the Department of Health and providing for hospital health clinics and for a tax credit.