Artificial Intelligence has already made a profound change in healthcare, and its impact will continue to grow. For all of its promise, it is imperative that we ensure transparency, human decision making, and protection of privacy and against discrimination and harm when AI is used by clinicians, healthcare facilities, and insurers.

This week, I partnered with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to introduce H.B. 1925 to regulate the use of AI in healthcare, to make sure that all Pennsylvanians know that AI is being used effectively and ethically.

I am honored to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers as their Legislator of the Year. As an emergency physician, I have worked with social workers my entire career and seen firsthand how critical their work is for our community and state. I will continue to stand with them in their advocacy for their profession and all Pennsylvanians.

This week, three bills I introduced moved out of committee, and they will all move to the House floor for consideration. These bills would ensure that Pennsylvanians are able to have accessible and affordable vaccinations by guaranteeing insurance coverage and the ability of pharmacists to administer immunizations based on evidence-based guidelines, while also updating our laws to reflect modern pharmacist practice. You can find my remarks on each of them in the videos below.

On Wednesday, the House Insurance Committee approved H.B. 1828, which would require private insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which can draw upon the expertise of several professional medical societies for its decisions.

Then on Thursday, the House Professional Licensure Committee approved H.B. 1881, which would allow pharmacists to administer vaccines that are recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, again which can draw upon expertise from professional medical societies for its decisions.

In that same meeting, the Professional Licensure Committee also unanimously approved H.B. 980, bipartisan legislation that would update the membership of the State Board of Pharmacy to include a second pharmacist working in hospitals and health services, and a pharmacy technician. These new members would strengthen the knowledge and perspectives that drive our public health and be a better reflection of pharmacy practice across Pennsylvania.

I was happy to join the Pennsylvania Society of Health Service Pharmacists for their advocacy day. Health system pharmacists are critical to clinical care, and I am grateful to work with them in the emergency department. Thank you to all our health system pharmacists for their work every day for patients.

I also had the privilege of welcoming fellow physicians from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists during their advocacy day. Thank you for your work to improve the health of women in our communities and standing fearlessly for evidence-based public health measures.

It was great to meet with representatives from Church World Service to discuss H.B. 1113, introduced by my colleague Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, which would establish an Office of New Pennsylvanians. Immigrants are a vital part of our country, and as an immigrant and legislator, I am proud to support this effort.

So many of the choices we make every day impact our health. However, for better or for worse, our health is not merely determined by the choices we make as individuals and can be affected by outside factors.

One factor that can affect the health of our community is the impact of lead pipes. No amount of exposure to lead is healthy, and many homes in our community still have lead pipes that put this dangerous element in their water. You can read more about my views on the need to replace lead pipes here on TribLive.

It was a pleasure to join Rep. Matzie and leaders from business and labor at the PA Nuclear Summit, hosted by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. I am proud to be a member of the Nuclear Caucus and support responsible nuclear energy development as part of our energy portfolio.

Veena and I had a wonderful time at the North Allegheny School District 28th Annual Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner. Rep. Shaffer and I had the honor of presenting recognition from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to the inductees. Congratulations to the honorees for your excellence representing our community.

I will be hosting my annual community Diwali celebration on Sunday, November 2nd from 6 - 8 PM at the Baierl Family YMCA (2565 Nicholson Rd, Sewickley, PA). We will also be collecting dry food items for North Hill Community Outreach. You can RSVP here.

Animal Friends will be supporting veterans and current service members by providing free vaccinations for their cats and dogs. They will be at Alco Parking Red Lot 7C, 630 Scotland Ave, Pittsburgh on October 30th from 10 AM – 3 PM.

Proof of military or veteran status will be required. No appointments are necessary. Microchips and treatment for fleas and ticks will also be available at extra cost.

This fall marks 10 years of the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium's work in preserving, sharing, and advancing the history of disability in our region.

Beyond History: Framing the Past, Shaping the Future, held on October 22nd from 6 – 8 PM at the Heinz History Center, will be an evening that honors the past, spotlights present-day advocates, and looks boldly toward a more inclusive future. Learn more and register here.

The Town of McCandless is seeking applicants for a variety of boards and committees. Visit this page to learn more, including how to apply.

Monday, October 13th will mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day, when we celebrate the contributions of Native Americans to Pennsylvania and our nation, and remember our difficult history toward our original population. On this day, my office will be closed. We will reopen on Tuesday, October 14th.

Please remember that my talented staff can assist you with a variety of state-related matters – from filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass, to name just a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!
 

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s most convenient for you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 B East Wing

PO Box 202030

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2363

District Office

9800B McKnight Road, Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 348-8028