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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee | State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski D-Luzerne Hearing Co-Chairman |
Democratic Policy Committee examines health care issues in Pa.
NANTICOKE, March 29 – The House Democratic Policy Committee today held a public hearing at Luzerne County Community College to look at health care issues in Pennsylvania, said Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
The hearing focused on the consequences of adultBasic's termination earlier this month on former enrollees in northeastern Pennsylvania, and on controversial health care-related bills being considered in the General Assembly. State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, requested the hearing and served as its co-chairman.
"We're beginning to see the impact that the elimination of adultBasic has had on communities across the state," Sturla said. "Many of the former enrollees are still wondering what they'll do if they get sick. Representative Pashinski hosted the hearing in northeastern Pennsylvania today to explore the effect that adultBasic and other health care changes are having on his communities."
"It's time to work together with our new governor and the insurance companies and all participants in the health care industry to provide a better funding mechanism and reduce the cost by eliminating fraud, inefficiencies and system failures," Pashinski said.
The testifiers at the Nanticoke hearing included Rick Bloomingdale, president, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; Athena Ford, statewide education and implementation coordinator, Pennsylvania Health Access Network; and Patty Ludwikowski, vice president, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania.
For more information about the Policy Committee and hearing materials, visit www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.
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