|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Bill
Thomas |
State Rep. Mark
Longietti |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Longietti, Pa. House vote to increase access to, quality of health care
Pa. lawmaker says his legislation would enable students, children to continue receiving health coverage
HARRISBURG, June 27 – State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, announced that the Pennsylvania House has passed several key measures critical in implementing the Democrats’ health-care reform package and jump-starting approval of the state’s budget, including a plan that would increase access to health insurance for children and students.
Included in the list of bills moved to the Senate for consideration was a proposal introduced by Longietti (H.B. 1556) that would expand health-care coverage to young adults by allowing parents to keep a child on their insurance plan until the child turns 30. To qualify for extended coverage, the child would have to be unmarried, have no dependents, be a resident of the Commonwealth or a full-time student, and receive no other health insurance benefits. The bill was passed unanimously by the House.
“Currently, there are more than 1 million Pennsylvanians without health insurance, yet a majority of them have full-time jobs or are still seeking some form of higher education,” Longietti said. “The cost of insuring these citizens is placed on the backs of those who do have health insurance, with about 6 percent of their premium paying for health care for those who have none. That costs Pennsylvanians about $1.4 billion a year.
”My bill would provide a way for many of those younger citizens who are either starting their careers or still obtaining a degree to stay on their parents’ insurance plan at no additional cost to their parents’ employer or insurance companies, and a way to limit the amount that all other insured citizens pay out of their own pockets,” he added.
Also passed by the House on Monday were measures that would expand the role of several allied health professionals in Pennsylvania to citizens’ access to care, which Longietti said is another way to reduce the costs of the state's ailing health-care system. Measures included legislation to expand the scope of practice for certified registered nurse practitioners (H.B. 1253) and clinical nurse specialists (H.B. 1254), as well as nurse midwives (H.B. 1255). Other bills would allow doctors to supervise more physician assistants in regular and osteopathic medicine (H.Bs. 1251 and 1252).
“By allowing these professionals to practice to the full extent of their education and training, we will be opening up access to care for thousands for Pennsylvanians while reducing the cost of care,” Longietti said.
Longietti also supported legislation that would provide significant state funding for biomedical research and technology through the newly created Jonas Salk Legacy Fund (H.B. 1142). He said that providing state money for research and development would allow Pennsylvania to make investments in finding long-term solutions to many chronic diseases, potentially saving millions of dollars down the road in health-care costs.
The Mercer County lawmaker said that even though the House passed the measures, the process of reforming health-care is far from over. But he said he is hopeful the proposals will be passed by the Senate and included in the governor’s final budget plan.
“As we move closer to the end of the current fiscal year, legislation that would implement many of the health-care reforms we have proposed that are funded by the state budget are being addressed, which is an indication that we are progressing and moving forward with the budget process,” Longietti said. “Health care is a priority of mine and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to make sure the programs we have worked hard to pass in the House remain intact and provide the relief so many Pennsylvanians are seeking”
###wt/2007/mjh l:\print\releases\insurance30_pass.007