Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

SB 1504 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for dispute resolution; and making a repeal.

Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, Oct. 20, 2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced October 15, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 18% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill establishes dispute resolution processes for hospitals and long-term care nursing facilities.

This bill amends health and safety regulations to include informal and formal dispute resolution for deficiencies at hospitals and long-term care nursing facilities. It aims to streamline how these facilities can contest findings from inspections.

What this means for you
  • Healthcare: Healthcare facilities can now formally dispute deficiencies, potentially improving compliance procedures.

Summary

Independent Dispute Resolution for Contested Hospital Deficiencies

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a new chapter in Pennsylvania law for dispute resolution processes related to long-term care nursing facilities and hospitals.

  • Title 35

    CHAPTER 35 DISPUTE RESOLUTION Subchapter A. Preliminary Provisions B. Informal Dispute Resolution for Long-Term Care Nursing Facilities C. Informal Dispute Resolution for Hospitals D. Formal Dispute Resolution for Hospitals

    This addition creates a structured framework for dispute resolution in health care facilities.

  • § 3501

    This chapter relates to: (1) An informal dispute resolution process for long-term care nursing facilities. (2) An informal dispute resolution process for hospitals. (3) A formal dispute resolution process for hospitals.

    Defines the scope of the new dispute resolution chapter.

  • § 3502

    The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:...

    Introduces specific definitions relevant to the dispute resolution processes.

  • § 3503

    Upon issuance of a finding of deficiency under this chapter, the department shall provide written notice of all available rights to dispute deficiencies...

    Mandates the Department of Health to inform facilities of their rights to dispute deficiencies.

  • § 3511

    The purpose of this subchapter is to establish an informal review process for long-term care nursing facilities to dispute Department of Health survey findings using an independent agent.

    Establishes a purpose for informal dispute resolution specifically for nursing facilities.

  • § 3512

    The department shall establish an IDR process to determine whether a cited deficiency contained in a statement of deficiencies against a long-term care nursing facility should be upheld.

    Creates a process for long-term care facilities to challenge deficiencies.

  • § 3512(2)(i)

    The department shall designate Pennsylvania's QIO as the independent IDR agent.

    Designates a Quality Improvement Organization to serve as the agent for independent dispute resolutions.

  • § 3512(5)

    The independent IDR process may not replace or be a substitute for the existing informal dispute resolution process conducted by the department...

    Clarifies that the new independent process is optional and does not replace existing methods.

  • § 3512(6)

    The fee for the independent IDR process shall be established by the independent IDR agent...

    Allows the independent IDR agent to set fees for the service.

Action History

  1. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, Oct. 20, 2026

  2. Second consideration, Oct. 20, 2026

  3. First consideration, Oct. 19, 2026

  4. Reported as committed, Oct. 19, 2026

  5. Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Oct. 15, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 251 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (251)

251 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1504 do?
Independent Dispute Resolution for Contested Hospital Deficiencies
Who sponsors SB 1504?
SB 1504 is sponsored by Michele Brooks (Republican) and Patrick J. Stefano (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 1504?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced October 15, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 1504?
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