Preserve Access to Health Care

President Obama convened a meeting of health-care-industry leaders in May to move the nation closer to comprehensive health-care reform. Doctors, hospitals, drug manufacturers and insurance companies all voluntarily offered $2 trillion in cost reductions over 10 years.

In Pennsylvania, House Democrats are making similar efforts to make health care more accessible and affordable for Pennsylvanians, particularly for children and the hundreds of thousands of residents who have no access to health care.

Unfortunately, the Republican budget threatens access to health care - including the Children's Health Insurance Program - and cuts critical medical treatment and prevention programs that help vulnerable residents.

The Republican budget:

• Dramatically cuts state appropriations for hospitals, trauma centers and obstetric and neonatal units, mental retardation, mental health, and programs serving individuals with physical disabilities -- in addition to forfeiting millions of federals stimulus dollars for the same programs.
• Removes more than $7.7 million that is needed to help an anticipated 20,000 more uninsured children receive insurance through the Children's Health Insurance Program in 2009-10.

Tell your state lawmakers and the legislative leaders who control the agenda to preserve children's access to health care and work to make health care affordable for all Pennsylvanians.