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In this Update:
Relief for Pharmacies is on the Way in Pennsylvania
House Bill 1993 which is the companion bill to legislation that I authored with Senator Tartaglione, Senate Bill 1000, was passed by both chambers and sent to the governor to be signed into law. Too many pharmacies are disappearing in Pennsylvania and now is the time to enact this meaningful reform to the relationship between pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers. This bill would put the needs of patients and their ability to access medicine first and brings this much needed relief to pharmacies across our Commonwealth. In many areas of the state, especially ones like ours, pharmacies are a vital part of the healthcare network. These pharmacies are on the front lines of healthcare and are often the first stop for people looking for care. As more and more pharmacies struggle and continue to close due to certain practices, this legislation was necessary to address many issues. This provides for transparency and accountability measures to ensure that pharmacies and PBMs are on a fair, level playing field. You can view my comments from the Senate floor by clicking on the image above. Senate Passes My Legislation to Modernize State’s Continuing Education System
This week the state Senate passed my legislation, Senate Bill 1242, which would streamline and improve the process for tracking continuing education requirements for licensed Pennsylvania professionals. It’s important for professionals in our state to fulfill continuing education requirements, but it’s equally important for their compliance to be properly recognized and tracked by the state. These systems need to be optimized and improved to better meet the needs of professionals across the Commonwealth so they can continue to serve our residents. Certain professions require continuing education, and state boards and commissions track professionals’ compliance with the requirements. Failure to complete continuing education requirements can lead to the suspension or loss of a professional license. The boards and commissions sometimes fail to process professionals’ continuing education requirements in a timely fashion, which also can jeopardize their licenses or ability to serve their clients. Senate Bill 1242 seeks to address the issue by giving the Pennsylvania Department of State the authority to modernize and streamline the process for verifying professional continuing education compliance. This proposal calls for the creation of a continuing education tracking system for use by licensees, boards and continuing education providers. The professionals who rely on these certification systems are providing important services to our families and neighbors in our communities. The continuing education certification process must better meet the needs of the professionals who use it and the Pennsylvanians they serve. Senate Bill 1242 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. You can view my comments here. Senior Expo to be held August 1!
Join us on Thursday, August 1 starting at 10 A.M. at the Reedsville Fire Company located at 16 PA 655 in Reedsville for my annual Senior Expo! The Senior Expo provides health screenings, vendor exhibits, light refreshments and door prizes. This event offers our seniors and their caregivers throughout the area the opportunity to meet with local services who may be beneficial to them. We hope to see you there! Senate Passes 2024-25 Commonwealth Budget
The Senate approved a future focused state budget which includes no new taxes and addresses the economic and demographic challenges the state faces in the years ahead. The spending plan is $740 million less than Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal, and it adds $740 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund – a key priority of Senate Republicans to prevent painful tax hikes or service cuts in the future. The budget includes key measures to boost the economy by removing barriers for businesses to relocate to or expand in Pennsylvania: a continuation of the Corporate Net Income Tax phase-out and the elimination of the Start-Up Penalty. Lawmakers also addressed the persistent problem of permitting delays that have chased jobs and investment to other states by creating permit review timelines, a new permit tracking system and the option for third-party review of certain permit applications. Significant resources are included to empower parents and families to make the best decisions regarding the educational needs of their children. Learn more about education funding and other budget highlights. Program Connecting Veterans with Benefits Receives Senate Approval
The Senate this week unanimously approved legislation to establish in law the PA VETConnect program to help Pennsylvania veterans access programs, services and benefits in their communities. Senate Bill 447 would establish in law the PA VETConnect program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and helps the commonwealth’s more than 700,000 veterans access services in their communities. The database of resources enables local veteran advocates – including staff at county veterans affairs offices – to point veterans to information, resources, programs and services in their area and across the commonwealth. PA Forward Private Student Loan Webinars for July
During the month of July, PHEAA will be offering four webinars that will provide students and families with the borrowing information that is right for them! You can register and find more information here. Borrow for Education – Which Loan is Right for Me: Wednesday, July 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. and Wednesday, July 24, from Noon to 1 P.M. I have done everything right so far: Found the perfect school, made it through the admission process, filed my FAFSA, filed my PA State Grant form, applied for scholarships, researched higher education costs, and calculated my funding gap. Now that I can see an education loan is necessary, where do I go from here? What loan programs are available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the various types? Join financial aid experts Suzanne Sparrow and Dan Wray of PHEAA for a 1-hour webinar to review the different borrowing options and examine the details associated with each option. Suzanne and Dan will answer your questions as you sort out the information and make decisions that are right for you and your family. Deep Dive into Covering the Gap: Thursday, July 11, from Noon to 1 P.M. and Thursday, July 25, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. It’s crunch time. The semester bill I received from the school has a tight deadline. The format of the bill looks different from the aid offer I received a while back. Are there any costs I need to plan for that aren’t showing on the bill? What happened to the federal work-study award? Will I need to borrow? If so, how much? What loan programs are available? Join Suzanne Sparrow and Dan Wray of PHEAA for a 1-hour webinar where these questions and many others will be answered. Let’s take a deep dive into covering the gap. Senate Votes to Expand Authority of Hospice Licensed Practical Nurses
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1080 to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements, saving money and limiting unnecessary emotional distress for the patient’s family. Pennsylvania law currently allows registered nurses (RNs), medical doctors, physician assistants and coroners to make death pronouncements. Many hospice facilities across Pennsylvania face workforce shortages. Giving LPNs the authority to make death pronouncements can help hospice facilities address their staffing issues. Register Now for the Scouting Showcase on August 15
Online Dashboard Shows Tick Hot Spots
Tick season is in full swing, but there are ways to continue to enjoy the many benefits of the Great Outdoors while minimizing the risk of becoming a victim of a tickborne disease. Pennsylvanians should take precautions every time they spend time outside as the state leads the nation in the number of Lyme disease cases. A new Pennsylvania Department of Health online dashboard shows where ticks are prevalent and the latest data on tickborne disease activity, such as Lyme disease. Tick bites can be limited using preventative measures. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents. Walk in the center of trails and avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. When returning indoors, check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks. Shower within two hours and check your body using a full-length mirror. Promoting Safe Driving Habits
Recognizing this week as Operation Safe Driver Week, which aims to reduce driving behaviors, here are some helpful tips so we can all enjoy the roadways safely. Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths since 2008. Nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019 were not wearing seatbelts. Distracted driving is another behavior that puts people at risk. The AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index revealed that 88% of drivers believe distracted driving has outpaced all other traffic-related issues as a growing safety concern. In June, the Senate passed legislation, now law, limiting the use of handheld cellular and other devices while driving.
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