Author: Brigitte S.

Listen

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania residents who work in Maryland may soon be able to participate in telework opportunities under a bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday morning.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), would make the temporary guidance issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue during the pandemic permanent. The guidance allowed for employees who work for out-of-state corporations to work from home without triggering state tax laws that would require the company to pay Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT).

Phillips-Hill noted there are a lot of lessons that can come out of the pandemic but said this is a major opportunity to get ahead of the teleworking trend.

“We can attract new residents to this state and allow them the flexibility to work from home for part of the year without significant tax implications for their employers,” she said. “The measure has strong bipartisan support, but the most important support comes from the dozens of constituents who would benefit from this commonsense change to our tax laws.”

The measure advances to the full Senate for consideration.

Listen

HARRISBURG – The General Assembly passed legislation that includes language to give bars, taverns, restaurants, breweries, clubs and hotels the option to have amplified sound outdoors, according to Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).

House Bill 1615, which would allow malt or brewed beverages produced by a brewery to be sold to non-licensees and to licensees that sell malt or brewed beverages, was amended to include legislative language originally sponsored by Phillips-Hill.

As amended, House Bill 1615 would allow all liquor license holders to offer amplified sound, up to 75 decibels, Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and midnight. The law currently only allows for wineries to have amplified sound.

“These commonsense approaches will help an industry that has been devasted by the massive economic shutdown these locally owned businesses and their employees had to endure,” Phillips-Hill said. “We are grateful for the swift passage of the amended bill, which will add a major boost during these summer months to small businesses throughout York County and our Commonwealth.”

Listen

HARRISBURG – The Senate unanimously approved landmark legislation that streamlines the prior authorization and step therapy processes for medical treatment, according to Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), who sponsored the measure.

Senate Bill 225 would set standards for commercial insurance plans as well as Medicaid plans when seeking prior authorization approval, as well as step therapy protocols. The legislation would also provide a timely process for appeals determinations.

Prior authorization refers to any process by which physicians and other health care providers must obtain advance approval from a health plan before a specific procedure or service is delivered to the patient to qualify for payment coverage. The process was initially created to control costs for experimental or new procedures. Step therapy requires patients to try one or more prescription drug treatment option(s) chosen by the patient’s insurance provider.

“This measure will strengthen relationships between doctors and patients, as well as cut red tape that will ultimately lead to better health care outcomes,” Phillips-Hill said. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue – this is about finding efficiencies and negotiating between health care providers and insurers to come up with reforms that will ultimately benefit patients across the Commonwealth.”

The legislation would require insurers to provide timely approval for both non-urgent and emergency health care services to health care providers before services and treatment are rendered. The proposal would also spell out guidelines for prescription drug step therapy, as well as options for patients and heath care professionals to obtain an exception to best serve the patient and his or her treatment plan.

A recent survey of physicians by the American Medical Association found 78% of doctors note that prior authorization delays can lead to their patients to abandoning their treatment, while 91% of doctors indicate prior authorization delays can lead to negative clinical impacts on patients.

The bill goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

WHAT: Members of the House and Senate, along with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, held a press conference on Tuesday, June 7, to discuss the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.  Introduced as Senate Bill 1191 by Sens. Judy Ward (R-30) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) and House Bill 972 by Reps. Barb Gleim (R-199), Martina White (R-170), Dawn Keefer (R-92), Valerie Gaydos (R-44), and Stephanie Borowicz (R-76), the legislation proposes that school athletic teams designated for women should not be open to those of the male sex. The legislation defines “sex” as the biological distinction between male and female, based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up.

WHO:  Sen. Judy Ward, other members of the Senate and House, and the Pennsylvania Family Institute

WHERE:  Main rotunda of the Capitol building

WHEN:  Tuesday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m.

CONTACT:  Nathan Akers, 717-787-5490