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PRINTER'S NO. 954
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 860
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, ARGALL, STREET, COMITTA, PENNYCUICK,
HUGHES, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, BOSCOLA, HAYWOOD, KANE, SAVAL,
MUTH, L. WILLIAMS AND COLLETT, JUNE 18, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JUNE 18, 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.
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 to read:
Section 443.6. Reimbursement for Certain Medical Assistance
Items and Services.--* * *
(g) The department shall establish a benefit [packages]
package for [dental and] 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
year 2011-2012, the department shall establish such benefit
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[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. During State fiscal year 2025-2026, the
department shall establish the benefit package by publication of
one or more notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. A notice shall
describe the available benefit package. The benefit package
shall take effect as specified in the notice and remain in
effect until changed by department regulation. 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. The benefit package
under this subsection:
(1) shall include all coverages for dental services provided
prior to the dental benefit package changes announced under 41
Pa.B. 5133 (September 24, 2011);
(2) may not remove any existing coverage for dental services
or include a benefit limitation for covered dental services; and
(3) may include additional coverages for 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).
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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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