Wilkes-Barre – This week, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Commission (HELP) is endorsed by US Senators Bob Casey, D-Scranton, Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Jeanne Shaheen (R-LA). Promotes a non-partisan law on the justice of the pregnant worker. D-NH).
The bill is currently being submitted to the Senate for consideration. This pioneering law protects pregnant workers from discrimination in the workplace.
“My colleagues and I have been working to achieve this level of protection for workers in need for over nine years. With this surcharge, the bill is a step towards legislation. We’re getting closer, ”says Casey. “Workers’ health and safety are undeniable and we need to make it a priority for everyone.”
Dr. Cassidy said the Senate was one step closer to securing necessary work accommodation for pregnant mothers.
“Pregnant mothers should not face barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the workplace and feeding themselves and their families,” said Senator Shaheen. “We are very excited that this bipartisan bill will help prevent pregnancy discrimination and provide pregnant mothers with access to decent accommodation in the workplace. Today there are major hurdles for the committee. I have supported this bill for many years. I urge lawmakers across the corridor to support this important law protecting pregnant women. “
Pregnant worker fairness, which is a rigorous model of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requires employers to take reasonable precautions to ensure that pregnant workers continue to work safely. Employers with 15 or more employees are often guaranteed to provide inexpensive or free reasonable accommodation as long as they do not cause undue difficulty to the employer. The bill contains protection that has not yet been codified by the ADA or the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA).
The Fairness for Pregnant Workers Act allows pregnant workers to take extra toilet breaks, make light commitments, or sit in chairs when standing all day. Allows you to keep working. It prevents them from being kicked off vacation or work. The bill also prohibits employers from denying women employment opportunities based on the need for reasonable accommodation due to childbirth or related illnesses.
Pennsylvania to see further plans
Insurance and stable premiums for 2022
Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman announced this week that the Pennsylvania insurance market is looking to offer more options and competition than ever before, based on the proposed 2022 health insurance plan. Did.
Eight insurers plan to offer plans in the Commonwealth, with multiple insurers in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, and Pennsylvania citizens will have more health insurance options than ever before. Become.
Altman also announced the tariff declaration required for insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2022. Requests for individual and small group tariffs will increase the national average slightly. Insurers offering plans in individual markets have filed tariffs that charge an average increase of 2.0% across the state. Insurers currently selling in the small group market in Pennsylvania have come up with plans calling for an average increase of 4.8% across the state.
“The Pennsylvania health insurance market is strong and competitive in an unprecedented position. Pennsylvania survived the COVID-19 aftershocks and offers more affordable and predictable options. Everyone will be sure to insure themselves. It’s covered, ”said Altman. “The increased availability of these options and the continued availability of increased financial support from the American Rescue Plan 2022 will provide financial protection and security by providing coverage for you and your family. I’m out of time. “
As currently presented, none of the 67 Pennsylvania counties will lose their foreign exchange insurance companies, and 25 will acquire new insurers offering insurance through Penny, Pennsylvania’s health insurance market. .. In detail, 22 districts have won one insurer and three districts have won two insurers.
As submitted, at least two insurers will insure all counties in Pennsylvania, so by 2022 no county will have just one insurer offering insurance for a penny. In addition, six insurance companies are offering insurance for the first time in some districts.
“There are currently nearly 330,000 Pennsylvanians registered in the press through Penny,” Altman continued. “The savings from the American Rescue Plan have resulted in 90% of penny’s customers receiving financial assistance, increasing the financial assistance available by $ 49 million per month.”
Currently, approximately 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are enrolled under the Affordable Care Act insurance coverage. The Pennsylvania Insurance Authority endeavors to thoroughly analyze the requested rates to ensure that they meet the guidelines of the department’s mission to meet needs and criteria that are not excessive, inadequate, or discriminatory. After this review, the final admission fee will be published in September.
Public comments on price inquiries can be emailed to: [email protected]
State public-private partnership
Guarantee safe food for Pennsylvania
This week, Agriculture Secretary Russell Reading highlighted a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Union and state-wide farmers to keep locally grown produce safe for consumers.
“Fresh produce is an important part of a healthy diet,” says Reading.
Pennsylvania farmers are taking an active initiative to ensure product health and safety for Pennsylvania through a voluntary operational readiness review by the Food Safety Agency. I play. “
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million people in the United States develop food poisoning each year. Food poisoning is a significant public health burden that is largely preventable.
Pennsylvania farmers are doing their part to prevent these outbreaks by implementing food safety practices on their farms. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Union, is free and voluntary to educate farmers about the responsibilities and requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) agricultural safety regulations, assess agricultural practices, and collaborate. Evaluations of agricultural preparations are provided. Operators to improve the safety of agricultural products for consumers.
Operational Readings are provided to farmers as an opportunity to prepare for full implementation of the FDA’s FSMA Agricultural Safety Guidelines. Reviews give farmers the opportunity to work with inspectors to identify ways to resolve problems, address vulnerabilities, and strengthen food safety practices to meet the requirements of agricultural safety regulations.
National Farmers Market Week takes place in the first week of August. Pennsylvania has more than 1,000 farmers markets and farmers markets that contribute physically and economically to the health of the community.
House Republicans to Wolf
Prioritize the recovery of SMEs
Pennsylvania Republicans received Wolf this week from Governor Tom Wolf as part of his office as Pennsylvania restaurants and small businesses suffer from the Wolf administration-initiated COVID-19 economic shutdown. He called for recovery prioritization with a $ 372 million discretionary pandemic account. State budget 2021-22
In a jointly sponsored memo distributed Monday, Congressman Jason Ortitai (R-Washington / Allegheny) and Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks) used $ 372 million in their discretionary account with Wolf, a small and medium-sized business. Create a fund to help businesses fight and raise awareness about vaccine use in Pennsylvania.
“The top five percent of the Federal Dining Aid Fund winners received 40% of the money and only a third of the Pennsylvania restaurants that competed,” Ortitay said. “This is scary. The latest state budgets must give the Wolf Administration the resources it needs to help its troubled employers and give the governor more money.”
According to lawmakers, $ 150 million of the governor’s discretionary fund will go to the Small Restaurant Pandemic Relief Fund and $ 150 million to the Pennsylvania Small Employer Pandemic Relief Fund. .. And finally, $ 20 million will create the Immunization Awareness Fund. The remaining $ 52 million can be used by the governor to provide pandemic relief if needed.
In the absence of law, the governor is not prohibited from creating these programs himself with a pandemic-ready discretionary fund.
Comments are closed.