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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dwight Evans |
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HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY MOVES ON HEALTH CARE FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIANS
HARRISBURG, Dec. 5 – Two state House committees today moved legislation that lays out a plan for providing health care to 800,000 Pennsylvanians who are without medical insurance.
Under the plan crafted by House Democrats and the Rendell Administration, the state would establish a fund to help pay for a new program that will allow small businesses to provide health care to low wage uninsured workers and give other uninsured Pennsylvanians access to affordable health coverage. The legislature would have 90 days to work out the program details. The new fund would be called the Medical Care Availability for Pennsylvanians (MCAP) Reserve Fund.
Debate and floor votes on the measure, which was amended into Senate Bill 1137, are expected next week.
Democratic leaders hailed the proposal introduced by State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and supported by members of the Insurance Committee, as key in the effort to provide health care to the state’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens. Frankel is vice-chairman of the Insurance Committee and he also serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
“We are not going to continue to subsidize doctors when we have 800,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians,” said State Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Phila., who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Just hours after the Insurance Committee gave its approval to the proposal, Evans’ committee did the same, allowing the measure to be sent to the full House for consideration.
As Chairman of the House Professional Licensure Committee, Rep. Mike Sturla has played a key role in advancing key components of the Prescription for Pennsylvania and is the prime sponsor of the governor’s Cover All Pennsylvanians plan.
“The fundamental question is whether we want to cover all Pennsylvanians by guaranteeing access to affordable health insurance,” Said Sturla, D-Lancaster. “If the answer is ‘yes’ then we will figure out how to pay for it. In fact, there are several ideas on the table, all of which are feasible. But Republicans need to play an honest role in this. They are either in favor of covering all Pennsylvanians or they aren’t. If they are, then they need to take responsibility for a part of the solution for funding it. But if they are not, then they need to be honest with their constituents and admit that they are not in favor of covering all Pennsylvanians.”
Frankel’s legislation creates a new health care fund that small businesses and the uninsured can access to pay for health care. The money for the health care fund will come from a surplus that has accumulated in an existing state account established in 2003 to reduce medical malpractice premiums paid by doctors. Money for that account is collected through a 25 cent tax on cigarettes; the account has $414 million in surplus money.
“We have a different priority from the Republicans who control the Senate,” Frankel said. “This issue has to move forward and my legislation puts the discussion center stage immediately. We are standing up for the people who don’t have insurance and we are going to force a public conversation about this issue. It’s time to take action.”
Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, the Democratic Policy Chairman, said the state can’t in good conscience continue to help doctors without helping the poor.
“Since 2003 we have spent $1 billion helping doctors pay their insurance premiums but we haven’t improved access to affordable health care,” Eachus said. “With this plan we’re making sure that patients can afford to visit those doctors.”
House Democrats created the Children’s Health Insurance Program to help working parents provide health care for their kids and they created the PACE program to ensure that our older residents have access to vital medicines; led the fight to reduce health care acquired infections; and improved the scope-of-practice laws to improve access in rural areas and help medical professionals use their skills and training more effectively.
House Democrats this week pushed forward with several key pieces of legislation including a bill to establish a new open records law in Pennsylvania; a proposal to save the state’s environmental cleanup fund; and a plan designed to improve performance and accountability throughout Pennsylvania government.
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CONTACTS
Ben Turner for Rep. Frankel Phone: 717-787-7895
Bob Caton for Reps. Eachus Phone: 717-783-1375
Christina Zarek for Rep. Sturla Phone: 717-787-7895 |