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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Todd Eachus |
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Eachus: Pennsylvania must protect vulnerable citizens across all stages of life
House majority leader committed to improving access to health care for kids, adults and seniors
HARRISBURG, June 2 – State House Majority Leader Todd A. Eachus, D-Luzerne, applauded the efforts of Gov. Ed Rendell and legislative colleagues in their efforts to improve access to affordable, quality care for citizens at all stages of life.
Eachus, who has been the driving force behind expanding programs that would help the state's most vulnerable citizens gain access to affordable care, said covering more children, working adults and seniors is critical in helping Pennsylvanians weather the current economic recession.
"The number one cause of bankruptcy for working families in America is not having health insurance," Eachus said. "With the economy in a recession, and unemployment hitting record highs across the state, many families and seniors are one illness or injury away from economic ruin."
On Tuesday, Eachus stood with Rendell to unveil a proposal that would expand the state's PACE/PACENET prescription drug program to cover prescriptions for an additional 30,000 seniors across the state. Eachus said the expansion would come with no additional cost to taxpayers, using more than $40 million a year saved from more efficient delivery of the program.
"By using the money we have saved by making the PACE/PACENET program more efficient, we can cover more seniors and provide much-needed help for our budget," Eachus added. "I commend the governor for finding innovative ways to help more seniors afford prescription drugs."
In addition, Eachus joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers and health-care advocates in support of H.B. 1, a proposal he introduced to expand the state's adultBasic program and provide access to basic care for more working families.
House Bill 1 aims at improving and expanding access to quality, basic health care in Pennsylvania, while adding vital benefits to the already existing program, such as prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventative and wellness care, and behavioral health care.
"There are about 235,000 people waiting to get into the adultBasic program," Eachus said. "If we reduce that waiting list and cover more people, we will be able to improve the quality of care across the Commonwealth and prevent costly, unnecessary emergency room visits, which will reduce the cost of care for all Pennsylvanians.
"Enhancing preventative care and wellness programs are some of the most
effective and efficient ways to control health-care costs," he added.
"By including a prescription drug component, we will be able to receive
significant matching dollars from the federal government, which will pick up 54
percent of the tab for this program."
Pennsylvania is currently facing a $3.2 billion and growing budget deficit. Eachus said now, more than ever, is the time to maximize the funds Pennsylvania can pull in from Washington while addressing an issue that places a hefty financial burden on hundreds of thousands of working families.
"We want to help people who get up and go to work every day, but aren’t offered health insurance by their employers and who can’t afford coverage on their own," he said. "We cannot, in good conscience, allow residents of this Commonwealth to spend another day worried about what will happen to them and their families if they get sick or are injured."
Eachus said he is also working with his colleagues in the House to enhance the state's Children's Health Insurance Program. The Senate Republican budget proposal, S.B. 850, cut funding to CHIP that would have enabled the state to cover all children in Pennsylvania. Eachus said House Democrats are committed to putting that funding back into the highly successful and effective program.
"We have the ability to provide access to health coverage for all of our state's children," Eachus said. "In my opinion, that is a cause worth fighting for.
"As majority leader, I am committed to providing access to health-care coverage for Pennsylvanians throughout all stages of their lives," Eachus said. "We will be judged on how we face the immediate needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
"Despite this difficult budget year, we cannot and will not ignore the needs of our children, our working adults, and our seniors."
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CONTACT: Bill Thomas Email: wthomas@pahouse.net |