Brown Champions Midwifery Modernization Act During Midwifery Advocacy Day

HARRISBURG – In recognition of National Midwifery Week, Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40) hosted a Midwifery Advocacy Day along with midwives, advocates and fellow legislators to raise awareness and celebrate the introduction of legislation aimed at modernizing midwifery practice across Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 1262 – or the Midwifery Modernization Act – would expand access to high-quality maternity care for families across the commonwealth by modernizing midwifery laws and improving maternal health outcomes.

“Pennsylvania families are facing increasing barriers when it comes to accessing quality maternal and infant health care, especially in rural areas,” said Brown. “The March of Dimes’ latest Maternity Care Desert Report highlights the difficult choices many families face, with residents in 20 counties needing to travel out of their communities to find care. By passing the Midwifery Modernization Act, we can align Pennsylvania with national trends, expand access to essential care and ensure that certified midwives can continue to provide high-quality, professional support for expecting mothers and their newborns. This legislation is a vital step toward improving maternal health care and outcomes in the commonwealth.”

Midwives play an essential role in the health care system, providing comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and gynecological services. Their expertise includes identifying high-risk pregnancies, monitoring maternal health, and offering support during labor and delivery, as well as addressing postpartum mental health.

The Midwifery Modernization Act amends the Medical Practice Act of 1985, updating licensure for certified midwives, modernizing prescription regulations for drug addiction treatment and improving collaboration between midwives and physicians. This legislative update will expand access to maternal care, increase patient choice and improve health outcomes for families across the state.

Brown was joined by advocates and health care professionals who underscored the importance of midwifery care.

“March of Dimes supports efforts to increase access to midwifery care in all states. Midwives can improve access to maternity care in under-resourced areas, reduce interventions that contribute to the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity in pregnancies, lower costs, and improve the health of mothers and babies,” said Melissa Patti, director of Maternal and Infant Health at March of Dimes.

“The Pennsylvania Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (PA ACNM) is glad that midwifery is being included in discussions on how to improve outcomes for Pennsylvania families. Accessible midwifery care will help turn the tide on the poor outcomes we see across the state. The more midwives working to the full extent of their education and certification, the more highly qualified professionals we’ll have to deliver the high-quality care Pennsylvanians deserve,” said Emily McGahey, clinical director at the Midwife Center and Region 2 representative on the American College of Nurse-Midwives board.

To become certified, Pennsylvania midwives must complete rigorous education and licensure requirements, including a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an accredited midwifery education program, passing the national certification exam and maintaining licensure through continuing education.

View the entire press conference here.

CONTACT:
Christine Zubeck

Martin Applauds Credit Rating Upgrade, Underscores Importance of Protecting Rainy Day Fund

HARRISBURG – Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) applauded today’s announcement that Moody’s Investor Services upgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating to Aa2 based on the state’s strong budget reserves and prudent financial management.

The announcement was the fourth major upgrade to the state’s financial outlook in the past 13 months. In September 2023, Moody’s Investor Services and S&P Global Ratings both affirmed Pennsylvania’s current Bond Rating and revised the state’s financial outlook from “Stable” to “Positive.” In November 2023, Fitch Ratings upgraded the state’s bond rating from AA- to AA.

The previous upgrades helped Pennsylvania save nearly $100 million during the December 2023 bond sale.

While Martin said the bond rating upgrade was good news, he also added that Moody’s revision of the state’s financial outlook today from “Positive” to “Stable” is a reminder that lawmakers and the governor still have work to do to achieve a sustainable, structurally balanced budget in the future.

Moody’s specifically noted that a sustained return to structurally balanced budgets and maintenance of sound budget reserves could lead to future credit upgrades, while sustained budgetary imbalance and depletion of reserves could lead to future downgrades.

“Today’s announcement is another positive step as we continue to work toward achieving responsible, structurally balanced budgets in the years ahead. At the same time, it serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining the state’s Rainy Day Fund and avoiding the temptation to overspend and create bigger deficits in the future. We have worked very hard to achieve these credit rating upgrades that save taxpayers huge amounts of money, and we owe it to taxpayers to continue to manage their money wisely,” Martin said.

 

CONTACT: Jason Thompson

Meeting to consider SB 1230, SB 1300, HB 2185 and HB 2268

Senate Appropriations Committee

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | Off the Floor

Rules Committee Conference Room


Agenda

SB 1230 – (Baker) Amends the Administrative Code to adopt the 2016 elevator code.

SB 1300 – (Langerholc) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to provide for limitations on
damages relating to actions against parties.

HB 2185 – (Fleming) Amendsthe Public School Code to require the Department of Health to develop type
1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians.

HB 2268 – (Markosek) Amends The Insurance Company Law of 1921 by requiring health insurance
companies to cover speech therapy for childhood stuttering.

Dush Legislation Preserving Cash Entrance to School-Sponsored Activities Earns Senate Approval

HARRISBURG – Sponsored by Sen. Cris Dush (R-25), legislation to require schools to accept cash as payment for entry to all school-sponsored activities, including sporting events sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, was approved (47-1) by the Pennsylvania Senate on Monday.

Although schools across the commonwealth would still be able to offer cashless payment options, under Senate Bill 1176, they would no longer be allowed to turn away anyone who does not have the ability to download an app or swipe a credit card to purchase a ticket. 

“Many Pennsylvania schools now refuse to accept cash as a form of payment into school-sponsored concerts, plays and athletic events,” said Dush. “While the mandatory cashless option is much more convenient for some and greatly streamlines the accounting process at the ticket office, for the elderly and others living on fixed incomes, it can make routine attendance at school-sponsored activities much more difficult or impossible.”

Amended by the Senate Education Committee, Dush’s legislation also includes language that would allow schools to refuse exceedingly large bills, such as a $100 bill for an activity where entry is only $1.

“In our Constitutional Republic, anyone willing to purchase a ticket with legal United States currency should never be discriminated against or denied entrance to a championship football game or any other school-sponsored activity simply because they do not possess a credit card or smartphone,” emphasized Dush.

“This commonsense, dollars-and-cents-preserving legislation does not outlaw cashless ticketing, it simply requires schools to accept cash so that senior citizens who desperately wish to watch their grandchild or support another loved one at a scholastic event are never turned away for lacking the latest payment technology.”

Senate Bill 1176 now advances to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration. 

CONTACT:  Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at 717-787-7084 or tmccauslin@pasen.gov.

Senate Education Committee Votes to Notify Parents of Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

HARRISBURG – Parents would receive information detailing the warning signs of type 1 diabetes under legislation approved with bipartisan support by the Senate Education Committee today.

Rep. Justin Fleming (D-105) introduced House Bill 2185 after his daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020. The bill requires that all parents and guardians of students receive a fact sheet outlining the warning signs of this disease. Early detection of the common symptoms can prevent serious health complications.

Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), the chair of the committee, praised Fleming for sharing his family’s story and working to prevent other families from suffering due to similar situations.

“Missing a warning sign of a serious illness is any parent’s worst nightmare,” said Argall. “This legislation will protect kids and ensure that we’re all better aware of the warning signs of diabetes.”

The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.

CONTACT: Jim Brugger

Meeting to consider HB 2189, HB 2294 and HB 2295

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Monday, October 7, 2024 | Off the Floor

Rules Committee Conference Room


Agenda

House Bill 2189 (Matzie) Amends the Underground Utility Line Protection Law to provide for
updates and reauthorization.

     • Amendment (Stefano) Replaces the legislation with the language from Senate Bill 1237
     and includes provisions for damage prevention investigations, a statute of limitations on
     recovery and a sunset date of December 31, 2031.

House Bill 2294 (Venkat) Amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to provide for
physician assistants.

House Bill 2295 (Venkat) Amends the Medical Practice Act to provide for physician assistants.

     • Amendment A05765 (Stefano) Corrects certain definitions related to a “primary
     supervising physician”.

Meeting to consider HB 843, HB 1304 and HB 2407

Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 10:30 a.m.

8E-B, East Wing


Agenda

I. Call to Order

II. Consideration of Legislation

     *HB 843 (D. Miller) (Title 35/Health & Safety: Creation of a 2nd Regional Urban Search and Rescue
      Task Force based in Allegheny County)

     *HB 1304 (Solomon) (Title 35/Health & Safety: 911 Law Reauthorization)

            Amendment 05659 (Mastriano) would:
               *Replace the current provisions of the bill with language aimed at “modernizing” the 911
                 Law as we move toward Next Generation 911 (similar to HB 1854).
               *Add the PA Career Fire Chiefs as non-voting members to the 911 Advisory Board (HB 104)

      *HB 2407 (Solomon) (Title 35/Health & Safety: Fire & EMS Grant Program Reauthorization)
           
           Amendment 05942 (Mastriano) would:
               *Remove language associated with a potential increase in funding for the program.
               *Provide Firefighters flexibility when it comes to testing for Firefighter I (SB 1101).
               *Increases the loan thresholds in the Fire & EMS Loan Program (similar to SB 1193) and
                makes future adjustments on a biennial basis.

           Amendment #### (Muth) would further adjust the Fire & EMS Loan Thresholds.

           Amendment 05864 (Muth) would designate 9-1-1 Dispatchers as First Responders (HB 1463).

III. Adjournment

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