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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. W. Curtis Thomas |
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Thomas bill to study the streamlining of state health-care costs approved by House Insurance Committee
HARRISBURG, June 26 – State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, D-Phila., announced that his legislation (H.B. 1476) to require the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council to conduct a study of health plans offered to state government employees was approved by the House Insurance Committee this week.
The purpose of the study under H.B. 1476 is to find whether the migration of multiple health insurance plans into a single trust fund would result in cost savings for the state.
"In these uncertain economic times, people across the state are making tough choices about how to budget their costs," Thomas said. "The state government is no exception, and it only makes sense to look at our health-care system to see if any costs can be cut."
Thomas also said any cost savings from combining health plans should be used to support adultBasic health coverage and decrease the state's population of uninsured adults.
The legislation calls for the council to report its findings to the chairmen of the Finance committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives within six months of the effective date of the law.
House Bill 1476 now goes to the full House for consideration.
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