An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reimbursement for certain medical assistance items and services; and abrogating regulations.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 593 PRINTER'S NO. 1978
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 583
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, GAYDOS, WAXMAN, HANBIDGE, KINKEAD, MADSEN,
RUSNOCK, WEBSTER AND KHAN, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
further providing for reimbursement for certain medical
assistance items and services; and abrogating regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 443.6(g) of the act of June 13, 1967
(P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, is amended
and the section is amended by adding a subsection SUBSECTIONS to
read:
Section 443.6. Reimbursement for Certain Medical Assistance
Items and Services.--* * *
(g) The department shall establish [benefit packages for
dental and] a benefit package for pharmacy services for medical
assistance recipients twenty-one years of age or older, and any
exceptions to [such] the benefit [packages] package as the
department determines are appropriate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, including this section, during State fiscal
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year 2011-2012, the department shall establish such benefit
[packages] package, limits and exceptions thereto by publication
of one or more notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. A notice
shall describe the available benefit [packages] package or
limits and any exceptions thereto. The benefit [packages]
package, limits and exceptions thereto shall take effect as
specified in the notice and remain in effect until changed by a
subsequent notice issued on or before June 30, 2012, or
thereafter by department regulation.
(h) The department shall establish a benefit package for
dental services for medical assistance recipients twenty-one
years of age or older. T he department shall revise the benefit
package for dental services by publication of a notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. The benefit package shall take effect as
specified in the notice. The department shall seek a State plan
amendment or Federal waiver from the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, if needed, to allow the medical assistance
program to provide coverage for dental services in accordance
with this section. Subject to available funding, the benefit
package under this subsection:
(1) shall include all dental services provided prior to the
dental benefit package changes announced under 41 Pa.B. 5133
(September 24, 2011); and
(2) may include additional dental services beyond those
currently provided and those provided prior to the dental
benefit package changes announced under 41 Pa.B. 5133 (September
24, 2011).
(I) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (H), IF ADEQUATE FUNDING IS
NOT AVAILABLE TO INCLUDE ALL DENTAL SERVICES PROVIDED PRIOR TO
THE DENTAL BENEFIT PACKAGE ANNOUNCED UNDER 41 PA.B. 5133
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(SEPTEMBER 24, 2011), THE DEPARTMENT MAY OFFER FEWER DENTAL
BENEFIT SERVICES THAN WHAT WAS PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE DENTAL
BENEFIT PACKAGE CHANGES UNTIL AVAILABLE FUNDING IS PROVIDED TO
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SUBSECTION (H). THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ALLOW FOR THE LIMITATION OR
ELIMINATION OF ANY DENTAL BENEFIT SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER 41
PA.B. 5133 (SEPTEMBER 24, 2011).
Section 2. All regulations and parts of regulations are
abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with this act.
Section 3. If a Federal waiver under section 443.6(h) of the
act or a State plan amendment is approved by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Secretary of Human Services
shall transmit notice of the approval to the Legislative
Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of
the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Section 4. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) Section 2 of this act shall take effect immediately
following publication of the notice under section 3 of this
act.
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect
immediately.
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