Code Bill with Measures to Support Health Care Access Advances

August 30, 2023

The state Senate today advanced budget-related legislation that includes measures focused on protecting Pennsylvanians’ access to high-quality health care.

Senators sent House Bill 1300 to the House for consideration with a 29-18 vote. The legislation authorizes spending for many programs funded by state budget adopted during July. The legislation includes several measures focused on Pennsylvanians’ health care, including:

• Reauthorizing for five years and increasing the Quality Care Assessment, an assessment on hospitals that—combined with federal funding—helps support care for millions of Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medicaid.
• Creating a $50 million grant program through the Department of Community and Economic Development to provide emergency relief hospitals and health systems that experience unexpected financial distress.
• Increasing funding to county mental health services by $20 million, which will help to increase access to home- and community-based behavioral health care and reduce strain on hospital emergency departments.
• Increasing reimbursement rates for ambulance transportation.

“HAP and Pennsylvania’s hospital community thank senators for prioritizing Pennsylvanians’ health through measures that strengthen the sustainability of critical health care services in communities throughout the commonwealth, support care for millions of Pennsylvanians, and help to expand much-needed access to behavioral health care,” HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said. “As the legislative process continues, HAP looks forward to working with the House to ensure that these critical measures supporting Pennsylvanians’ health care are enacted.”

For more information, contact Heather Tyler, HAP’s vice president, state legislative advocacy.