FROM: State Rep. Don Walko, D-North Side

TO: Editor

DATE: Aug. 2, 2007

CONTACT: Ben Turner, 717-787-7895, bturner@pahouse.net

State Representative Don Walko Reports from Harrisburg:

New Pa. budget: What’s in it for you?

While it was difficult reaching agreement with the Republican-controlled Senate on the state budget package, I think the end result is good for Pennsylvania. The 2007-08 budget does not increase existing taxes or add any new state taxes. Here is a breakdown on some of the key funding increases and changes.

EDUCATION

•           We increased Pennsylvania’s investment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade by a total of $566.6 million.

•           We targeted early childhood education with $75 million to launch the “Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts” initiative that opens pre-kindergarten programs up to 11,000 children and provides $25 million so schools can continue to establish, expand and maintain full-day kindergarten.

•           We expanded the “Science: It’s Elementary” program with an additional $3.5 million in funding that will allow about 35,000 more children to participate.

•           We continued the “Classrooms for the Future” funding, which means 250 more high schools will get 83,000 laptop computers and expanded dual-enrollment opportunities for 3,000 students so they can earn college credit while in high school.

HUMAN SERVICES

•           We included $71.5 million to fund a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for human services programs including those that serve children, the elderly, rape victims, those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction and people with mental and physical disabilities. This represents the largest COLA in more than 15 years.

•           We made historic reductions in the mental retardation waiting list by providing $25 million to expand community mental retardation services for 3,428 people, including 2,555 people who are on county waiting lists.

•           We provided $28 million to expand community-based services for an additional 1,300 Pennsylvanians, including people with physical disabilities, mental illness and adults with autism.

HEALTH CARE

•           PACE Plus Medicare got a shot in the arm with over $276 million in second-year funding for a comprehensive state prescription-drug benefits program that supplements Medicare Part D and ensures that PACE enrollees will not incur an increase in out-of-pocket costs. Funding will enable an additional 32,000 people to be served by PACE, for a total of more than 357,000.

•           We maintained the voluntary managed care program in 26 counties, allowing 71,000 people to stay with their health plan, and kept the pharmacy benefit in the managed care program.

•           We restored the Community Access Fund and the uncompensated care payments to hospitals that care for uninsured people.

•           We established a new obstetrics and neonatal payment to hospitals to help prevent more hospitals from closing obstetrics units.

•           We provided a 3 percent increase for nursing home funding.

PRESCRIPTION FOR PENNSYLVANIA

•           Over 2,500 people died in 2006 as a result of infections they contracted while in the hospital. Caring for patients who get infections while being treated in a hospital cost $3.5 billion. New health-care initiatives ultimately will save Pennsylvanians millions of dollars and improve the delivery of health services .

•           We passed legislation that expands the duties of certified nurse practitioners; allows nurse-midwives to write prescriptions; promotes the use of physician assistants; and reduces hospital-acquired infections.

•           Certified nurse practitioners now will be able to order in-home health and hospice care and medical equipment as well as refer patients to physical therapists, dietitians, and respiratory and occupational therapists. Nurse practitioners also will have a greater ability to determine if disabled patients qualify for state or federal assistance.

•           Certified nurse midwives now are authorized to prescribe medication and order medical devices and laboratory tests for patients under their care.

•           Doctors are now allowed to supervise up to four physician assistants, instead of two.

            For more information on this or other state-related concerns, please visit my Web site -- www.pahouse.com/walko -- or call my office at 412-321-5523.