PHA Celebrates Legislative Wins as HB 155 and SB 1080 Become Law in Time for Care at Home Month

Lemoyne, Pa. (November 1, 2024) – The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) is honored to announce a
monumental step forward for home-based care in Pennsylvania with the recent passage and signing of House Bill
155 and Senate Bill 1080. These legislative victories coincide with November’s “National Care at Home Month,” underscoring the Commonwealth’s increasing commitment to accessible, quality care for its residents.

Home-based care includes a range of health and support services provided in a person’s home, rather than in a
hospital or long-term care facility. It includes medical, therapeutic, and personal care services tailored to meet the
needs of people of all ages, including those recovering from illness or injury, living with chronic conditions, or
needing assistance with daily activities due to age or disability. Home-based care aims to promote independence,
comfort, and quality of life, allowing people to receive necessary care in a familiar and comfortable environment.

The passage of these recent bills represents advancements in supporting the home-based care industry. HB 155
permits the use of remote video technology for conducting direct care worker interviews, making the process more
accessible and efficient for both agencies and applicants. Meanwhile, SB 1080 allows Licensed Practical Nurses
to pronounce death in home-based hospice settings, facilitating compassionate care to hospice patients and their
families.

“The signing into law of HB 155 and SB 1080 helps create efficiencies in how we deliver home-based care. With a
growing demand for these services, efforts such as these allow providers to use their time effectively and focus on
what’s most important – quality of care.” said Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. “We
are deeply grateful to the Governor and state legislature for supporting these simple yet effective changes for
home-based care. However, our work is not done— nursing and direct care worker shortages are impacting
access to care across the state, and we must keep pushing for reimbursement rates that allow the industry to not
only be competitive in the current economic environment, but also allow us to meet future demand for services.
We ask the Commonwealth to partner with us to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has access to the care they need
and deserve.”

Throughout November, National Care at Home Month, we celebrate the dedication of our caregivers,
direct care workers, nurses, therapists, and other home-based care staff. Their dedication and heart have
meaningful and lasting impacts on families across the Commonwealth. Our ability to bring care home is only
achieved through an investment in this critical workforce.

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is the leading voice and champion of the home and community-based
care industry, advocating for the workforce and enhancing quality services for individuals and their families across
the Commonwealth.