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Buck’s County Hosting Demonstrations of New Clear Ballot Voting System

New Law Will Ensure Coverage for Stage IV Cancer Patients

A new law will require insurance companies to cover medications and treatments prescribed to patients facing Stage IV metastatic cancer.

In current practice, insurance companies may limit coverage for prescriptions or require patients to try other insurance-mandated treatments before covering advanced treatments prescribed by a doctor. Act 6 of 2020, which was signed into law last week, will prohibit insurance companies from excluding or limiting drugs for patients if the drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and consistent with best practices for Stage IV metastatic cancer treatment.

Legislative Update: Fire/EMS Worker’s Comp Bill Advances

In current practice, lawmakers approved several bills of note last week, including a measure to ensure critical members of volunteer fire companies, ambulance corps and rescue squads who are injured in the line of duty would qualify for workers’ compensation coverage.

Legislative highlights from last week include:

• Senate Bill 94, which would ensure coverage for all active volunteers and integral members of a volunteer fire, ambulance or rescue company insured through the State Workers Insurance Fund.
• Senate Bill 309, which creates First-time Homebuyers Savings Accounts.
• Senate Bill 640, which authorizes the Commonwealth to join the interstate Physical Therapist Compact.
• Senate Bill 850, which establishes the Community Integrated Schools for Success pilot program.

PA Personal Income Tax Return Filing Options

Once again, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is offering several options for filing your PA Personal Income Tax Return, including by traditional paper forms, padirectfile, or PA e-file.

Padirectfile is a free and secure way to file your return directly with the PA Department of Revenue. PA e-file is a free option to file your federal and state taxes simultaneously. Click here for a PA Personal Income Tax Guide and to download paper forms.

Property Tax Rent Rebate Forms Available Now

Applications for the state’s Property Tax Rent Rebate program are available now at my district office. The program provides rebates of up to $650 on property taxes or rent paid in 2019.

To be eligible, applicants must meet income requirements and be a Pennsylvania resident age 65 and older; a widow or widower age 50 or older; or a permanently disabled individual age 18 or older.

The program is available to homeowners with a household income of $35,000 or less and renters with a household income of $15,000 or less, excluding one-half of Social Security Income and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits. Rebate amounts vary based on income.

More information on the program is available here.

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