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Venkat, Davidson, Khan, Kosierowski, Kuzma, Rigby, and Twardzik introduce bipartisan legislation to help Pennsylvanians overcome medical debt

(Jan 16, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Jan. 16 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Nate Davidson, Tarik Khan, Bridget M. Kosierowski, Andrew Kuzma, Jim Rigby and Tim Twardzik have introduced a bipartisan bill that would create the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program. The legislation ( H.B. 79 ) would target the medical debt of low-income Pennsylvania residents for relief. The Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program would also improve the finances of health care institutions and providers, concentrated largely in rural Pennsylvania, that regularly carry debt that is less likely to be repaid. Furthermore, the legislation would enact provisions to ensure transparency in existing hospital charity care programs and provide assistance in applying for charity care to prevent the accumulation of new medical debt. “Medical debt has been dubbed a ‘uniquely American problem,’ so it’s my hope that our bill will help provide relief to as many Pennsylvanians as possible,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “I’m proud to partner with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation that reduces the burden of affording medical care and allows families to put more food on the table.” “This legislation is more than just a policy – it's a lifeline that restores dignity, empowers families, and ensures that health does not come at the cost of hardship. I’m proud to sponsor this bipartisan measure so that vulnerable Pennsylvanians can focus on their Read more

 

Venkat, Matzie and Mehaffie introduce legislation to eliminate print statement fees

(Jan 14, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Jan. 14 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Rob Matzie and Tom Mehaffie have introduced legislation that would ban entities from assessing an additional fee to customers who request a print version of a financial statement. Such fees are as high as $5 per month, and H.B. 81 would also specify that any person or entity would still be allowed to create incentives for a consumer to select an alternative to a paper statement. “In effect, penalizing consumers for a peace of mind measure such as a paper statement runs contrary to keeping a readily accessible means to one’s financial data for a variety of necessary purposes,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “Our bill would help keep more dollars in the pockets of Pennsylvanians and reward entities for pursuing options more beneficial to the health and livelihood of the environment.” “No consumer should ever have to pay for a print copy of their bank or credit card statement. Tacking on fees for paper statements takes a simple business expense easily borne by the financial institution and shifts it unfairly onto consumers, where it can take a toll on those who are elderly, low-income, or simple lacking the needed access to technology,” said Matzie, D-Beaver. “By prohibiting these fees, our bill would ensure that any expenses remain with the party best able to bear them – the business that maintains the records.” “Charging fees for consumers who want Read more

 

Legislation to expand Property Tax/Rent Rebate limits passes House

(Jun 05, 2023)

Income limits for the PT/RR Program last increased in January 2007. Without any increase in the income eligibility since then, the number of recipients of the PT/RR Program has dropped from roughly 600,000 individuals to a projected 398,000 in the current year. Read more

 

Finance Committee approves Property Tax/Rent Rebate expansion legislation

(May 23, 2023)

Taking the first significant step toward increasing income limits for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for the first time in 16-plus years, the Finance Committee passed legislation Tuesday to do just that. Read more

 

Bill alert -- House Bill 13 is not "budget neutral"

(Mar 10, 2020)

House Bill 13 would tax pensions, clothes and medication, as well as increase the sales and income taxes you pay in order to cut property taxes on homes and properties owned by corporations. Read more

 

One of Philadelphia’s richest law firms wants tax breaks, again. Why it might get its way.

(Mar 08, 2020)

Dechert LLP, one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest law firms, where partners made $3 million each in profits last year, wants to move its headquarters into a virtually tax-free zone in the city. Read more

 

Medicaid block grant proposals spell trouble for patients and hospitals

(Feb 10, 2020)

Medicaid is a longstanding partnership between states and the federal government to provide care to the poorest and sickest among us. A pair of proposals from Washington threaten to upset this joint commitment and fray the nation’s perilously thin safety net for vulnerable patients.Together, these proposals stand to trigger an erosion of the impressive gains we’ve made for patients across our country and region this past decade. Read more

 

Fracking has led to a ‘bust’ for Pennsylvania school district finances

(Feb 10, 2020)

n the last decade, unconventional natural gas development has transformed American energy — as well as communities across Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region.Often popularly referred to as “fracking,” this highly industrialized process is used to extract energy resources from underground geologies such as shale or sandstone. Read more