Rep. Kathy Rapp Recaps 2021 At The PA State Capitol

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HARRISBURG, PA. (Erie News Now) – State Representative Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004.   

The nine-term state representative also serves as Chair of the House Health Committee.

Rep. Rapp sat down with ErieNewsNow to share some accomplishments from 2021, as well as what she looks forward to in 2022.





One legislative accomplishment from 2021 was House Bill 649, The Essential Caregiver Bill.

Now known as Act 67 after being signed into law by Governor Wolf, the law allows for a designated family member to serve as an essential caregiver during a pandemic.

“Which means that person would be allowed to visit their loved one in a nursing home or another setting during a pandemic or lockdown, so that person has the emotional care,” said Rapp. “That bill passed the House and the Senate, and the Governor signed that bill and I’m very, very proud of having been the prime sponsor of that bill,” Rapp added.





















Rapp is looking ahead to 2022 and hopes to advance additional legislation, which she says can benefit all Pennsylvanians.

One bill she is looking to move forward is her Lyme Disease bill, HB 1033.

“It’s a very important bill,” said Rapp.

The bill would require health insurers to cover treatment plans for Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses as prescribed by a patient’s health care practitioner, giving doctors more flexibility to prescribe long-term antibiotics to treat patients, if necessary.









“I believe this bill could alleviate their suffering,” said Rapp.

This is the second session Rapp has sponsored the bill.

“It is currently in the Senate. I am hoping that this year, this session the Senate acts on that bill and moves that to the floor of the Senate,” said Rapp.

Pennsylvania legislative sessions are two years long, so the current session will conclude at the end of 2022.

 

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