WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 513

A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine the financial impact of outdated hospital regulations on hospitals in this Commonwealth.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 22 co-sponsors

The bill directs a study to measure how outdated Pennsylvania hospital regulations financially burden hospitals and identify reforms to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Referred to Health
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 513

Summary of Bill HR 513 (Session 2025-2026) — Pennsylvania

Title

A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine the financial impact of outdated hospital regulations on hospitals in this Commonwealth.

Purpose and intent

  • The resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to study how outdated hospital regulations affect the financial health of hospitals across Pennsylvania.
  • The goal is to identify financial burdens or inefficiencies created by aging regulatory requirements and to assess whether reforms could improve hospital finances, patient access, and system-wide efficiency.

Key provisions and scope

  • Mandate for study: The LBFC must conduct a comprehensive review of hospital regulations that are considered outdated and assess their financial impact on hospitals operating in Pennsylvania.

  • Assessment components (anticipated, based on typical LBFC studies):

    • Identification of specific regulations deemed outdated or unnecessarily burdensome.
    • Quantification of the direct and indirect costs imposed on hospitals (compliance costs, staffing, facility upgrades, administrative overhead, etc.).
    • Evaluation of impact on hospital operational decisions, including:
    • Capital investment and modernization timelines
    • Operating margins and profitability
    • Service availability (e.g., patient access, emergency services, specialized care)
    • Analysis of regulatory burden on different hospital types (e.g., rural vs. urban, nonprofit vs. for-profit, teaching hospitals).
    • Comparison with best practices or regulatory frameworks in other states.
    • Potential cost savings, efficiency gains, or patient care improvements from updating or harmonizing regulations.
    • Recommendations for targeted actions, including legislative or regulatory changes, to reduce unnecessary costs while maintaining patient safety and quality.

  • Reporting requirements: The LBFC is typically required to prepare a report with findings, methodology, data sources, and actionable recommendations. The report would likely include estimated fiscal or budgetary implications and may propose legislative or executive actions.

Who would be affected

  • Hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania: Primary stakeholders, as the study centers on financial impact of regulations they must comply with.
  • Regulators and state agencies: Entities responsible for hospital regulations may face scrutiny and potential reform as a result of the LBFC’s recommendations.
  • Patients and communities: Indirect beneficiaries if regulatory updates improve hospital efficiency, service access, or reduce costs passed through to patients.
  • Taxpayers and state budget: Depending on findings, potential long-term fiscal implications or savings could influence state budgets or subsidy/aid programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Referral status: As of 2026-05-04, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Health.
  • Sponsor context: A broad group of co-sponsors indicates cross-party interest in evaluating regulatory burden on hospitals.
  • Next steps (typical for LBFC-directed resolutions):
    • The Health Committee would advance the resolution, authorize or request LBFC to begin the study, outline scope, deliverables, and deadlines.
    • LBFC would conduct the analysis, consult stakeholders, collect data, and issue a formal report with findings and recommendations.
  • Potential timeline (typical expectation): Studies of this nature often result in a final report within several months to a year, followed by consideration of proposed legislative or regulatory changes based on findings.

Notes on scope and limitations

  • The resolution directs a study rather than mandating immediate regulatory changes.
  • Specific regulations to be examined would likely be identified during the LBFC’s scoping of the project.
  • The impact assessment would emphasize financial effects, but may also consider impacts on access, quality, and safety.

If you’d like, I can add a concise checklist of potential data sources the LBFC might use (e.g., hospital cost reports, regulatory impact analyses, comparative state data) and outline potential policy levers that could emerge from the study.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.