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Bill

HB 2613

An Act providing for complex wheelchair quality assurance; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services and the Insurance Department.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Anthony Bellmon and 19 co-sponsors

Establishes a state framework to ensure quality, safety, and access to complex wheelchairs through DHS and Insurance Department oversight, provider standards, and data reporting.

Referred to Human Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2613

Bill Summary: HB 2613 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

HB 2613 seeks to establish a formal framework for complex wheelchair quality assurance. The bill allocates duties to state agencies—specifically the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Insurance Department—with the aim of improving access to high-quality complex wheelchairs and ensuring reliable oversight of related services.

Key provisions and changes

  • Quality assurance framework for complex wheelchairs

    • Establishes standards and processes to assure the quality of complex wheelchair equipment and related services.
    • Creates mechanisms to assess, monitor, and verify that wheelchair products and associated supports meet defined criteria for safety, functionality, and appropriateness for users with complex mobility needs.

  • Agency duties and oversight

    • Department of Human Services (DHS): Charged with implementing, administering, and enforcing the complex wheelchair quality assurance program. Responsibilities may include establishing criteria, provider qualifications, complaint handling, and data collection.
    • Insurance Department: Responsible for regulating or coordinating insurance-related aspects of the program. This could involve ensuring coverage parity, oversight of insurers’ compliance with quality standards, and facilitating access to approved equipment and services for insured individuals.

  • Provider and participant protections

    • Potentially requires credentialing or qualifications for suppliers and service providers to participate in the program.
    • May include consumer protections, such as grievance and appeal processes, informed consent requirements, and transparency around costs and coverage.

  • Data, reporting, and evaluation

    • Likely mandates data collection on outcomes, usage, and quality indicators.
    • Requires periodic reporting to the General Assembly or relevant committees on program effectiveness, expenditures, and areas for improvement.

  • Funding and implementation timeline

    • The bill may specify funding sources or budgetary allocations for program start-up and ongoing administration.
    • Establishes a phased or target timeline for rollout, with milestones for regulatory rules, provider enrollment, and consumer access.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals requiring complex wheelchair equipment and services (patients, consumers, and care recipients) who would benefit from standardized quality assurance and clearer access to approved devices and services.
  • Healthcare and social service providers (equipment suppliers, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, therapists, and clinicians) who participate in complex wheelchair procurement and service delivery.
  • Insurers and Medicaid programs operating in Pennsylvania, which may be subject to new coverage standards, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations.
  • State agencies (DHS and the Insurance Department) responsible for implementing and enforcing the program.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill designates roles for DHS and the Insurance Department, including rulemaking, program administration, and enforcement.
  • It likely includes reporting obligations to the legislature and a defined timeline for implementation, including rule adoption, provider enrollment, and consumer access milestones.
  • If enacted, agencies would publish standards, guidelines, and application processes as part of phased implementation.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Access and quality: Aims to raise quality standards for complex wheelchairs and related services, potentially improving safety, fit, and user outcomes.
  • Cost and coverage: Could influence insurance coverage decisions and out-of-pocket costs, depending on how providers, insurers, and state funding align with the new standards.
  • Administration and compliance: May introduce regulatory requirements for providers and insurers, including credentialing, reporting, and audit activities.
  • Equity and access: Intended to reduce disparities in access to appropriate complex wheelchair solutions through standardized processes.

Note: This summary is based on the bill title and sponsor information. For precise language, definitions, specific standards, funding amounts, penalties, and administrative rules, consulting the full bill text and fiscal notes is recommended.

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

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