Bill
Bill > SB978
PA SB978
PA SB978In casualty insurance, providing for coverage of allergenic protein dietary supplements.
summary
Introduced
08/25/2025
08/25/2025
In Committee
08/25/2025
08/25/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and supervision of insurance carried by such companies, associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and repealing existing laws," in casualty insurance, providing for coverage of allergenic protein dietary supplements. The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: (1) It is estimated that approximately 8% of children in the United States have food allergies. (2) Studies have found that approximately 38.7% of food- allergic children had a history of severe food-induced reactions. (3) Non-Hispanic Black children have two times the number of food-induced anaphylaxis and food allergy-related emergency department visits than non-Hispanic White children. (4) The 2019 Economic Burden of Food Allergy: A Systemic Review found annual mean individual-level direct medical costs of a food allergy of $2,081, with mean individual-level out-of-pocket costs of $1,874. (5) In 2021, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology released joint guidance recommending that at approximately six months of age, infants should be introduced to both peanut and egg products. (6) Introducing peanut and egg protein into infant diets is a cost-effective way to reduce the number of people with food allergies. (7) Reducing the number of people with food allergies will save lives, reduce health disparities and reduce medical costs to individuals and all residents of this Commonwealth.
AI Summary
This bill requires health insurance providers in Pennsylvania to cover, at no additional cost, dietary supplements specifically designed to help prevent food allergies in infants under one year old. These supplements include early egg and peanut protein introduction products that are prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. The bill is motivated by research showing that approximately 8% of children have food allergies, with significant health disparities among different racial groups, and evidence suggesting that early introduction of egg and peanut proteins can reduce the risk of developing food allergies. The legislation mandates that insurers provide coverage for these supplements without additional cost-sharing, applies to all health insurance policies (with some specific exclusions like dental or vision plans), and will take effect 60 days after passage. By requiring this coverage, the bill aims to potentially reduce future medical costs, decrease health disparities, and help prevent severe food-related allergic reactions by supporting early allergen introduction strategies recommended by medical professionals.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (9)
Camera Bartolotta (R)*,
Rosemary Brown (R),
Art Haywood (D),
Tracy Pennycuick (R),
Devlin Robinson (R),
Nikil Saval (D),
Judy Schwank (D),
Sharif Street (D),
Elder Vogel (R),
Last Action
Referred to Banking & Insurance (on 08/25/2025)
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