Read the full stored bill text
PRINTER'S NO. 711
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 695
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ZIMMERMAN, HAMM, BANTA, M. JONES, KAUFFMAN,
M. MACKENZIE, FINK AND GILLEN, FEBRUARY 21, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, FEBRUARY 21, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for vaccination schedule for pediatric patients and
for coverage, compensation and reimbursement for
vaccinations; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Immunization
Freedom Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Health care facility." A facility that is licensed by the
department to operate as a health care facility under the act of
July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care
Facilities Act.
"Health care practitioner." As defined in section 103 of the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Health Care Facilities Act.
"Health care provider." An individual, a trust or estate, a
partnership, a corporation, the Commonwealth or a political
subdivision or instrumentality of the Commonwealth that operates
a health care facility.
"Health insurance policy." A policy, subscriber contract,
certificate or plan issued by an insurer that provides hospital,
medical or surgical health care coverage. The term does not
include any of the following:
(1) An accident only policy.
(2) A credit only policy.
(3) A long-term care or disability income policy.
(4) A specified disease policy.
(5) A Medicare supplement policy.
(6) A fixed indemnity policy.
(7) An adult-only dental only policy.
(8) A vision only policy.
(9) A workers' compensation policy.
(10) An automobile medical payment policy.
(11) A policy under which benefits are provided by the
Federal Government to active or former military personnel and
their dependents.
(12) Any other similar policies providing for limited
benefits.
"Insurer." An entity that offers, issues or renews an
individual or group health, accident or sickness insurance
policy, contract or plan, and that is governed under any of the
following:
(1) 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to hospital plan
corporations).
20250HB0695PN0711 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(2) 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to professional health
services plan corporations).
(3) The act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as
The Insurance Company Law of 1921, including section 630 and
Article XXIV.
(4) The act of December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364),
known as the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
"License." Any of the following:
(1) A license issued by a Commonwealth licensing agency
or board to an individual to practice as a health care
practitioner.
(2) A license issued to a health care provider by the
department to operate as a health care facility.
Section 3. Vaccination schedule for pediatric patients.
(a) Vaccination schedule.--A health care practitioner shall
continue to provide pediatric care to a patient if the parent or
legal guardian of the patient chooses to utilize a vaccination
schedule that varies from the vaccination schedule recommended
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if the patient
receives at least one vaccination each calendar year.
(b) Meeting request.--A health care practitioner may request
a meeting with the parent or legal guardian of a patient
receiving pediatric care to discuss a proposed vaccination
schedule. The health care practitioner may not bill the patient,
the patient's parent or legal guardian or the patient's insurer
for a meeting under this subsection.
(c) Waiting room.--A health care practitioner may establish
a secure waiting room in a health care facility for patients who
utilize a vaccination schedule that varies from the vaccination
schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and
20250HB0695PN0711 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Prevention. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
authorize a health care practitioner to limit the hours that
patients receiving pediatric care can schedule appointments with
the health care practitioner in a manner to restrict the ability
of the patients to have their health care needs met.
(d) Standing order.--Upon agreeing on a vaccination schedule
with the parent or legal guardian of a patient receiving
pediatric care, a health care practitioner may issue a standing
order to a designee of the health care practitioner to ensure
that the patient utilizes the vaccination schedule. A standing
order under this subsection may not prohibit the compensation or
reimbursement of a health care practitioner for other services
rendered by the health care practitioner.
Section 4. Coverage, compensation or reimbursement for
vaccinations.
(a) Insurers.--An insurer may not refuse to provide coverage
under a health insurance policy or compensate or reimburse a
health care practitioner operating within the scope practice for
a vaccination administered on a schedule that varies from the
vaccination schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(b) Financial incentives.--Except for compensating or
reimbursing a health care practitioner for the cost of a
vaccination and the administration of a vaccination, an insurer
may not provide financial incentives to a health care
practitioner to provide vaccinations on a per-member basis.
Section 5. Penalties.
A health care practitioner who violates section 3 shall be
subject to administrative penalties imposed by the health care
practitioner's Commonwealth licensing agency or board for
20250HB0695PN0711 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
unprofessional conduct.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
20250HB0695PN0711 - 5 -
1
2
3