Two healthcare-related bills– one that deals with mandating autism coverage by insurance companies, and one that deals with the renewal of hospital agency PHC4– have now been amended to include provisions for two other healthcare-related issues– the potential merger of two health insurance companies, and renewed MCARE coverage for doctors, respectively.

 Earlier this week, the Senate attached an amendment that provides for increased oversight of the proposed Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Inc. merger onto the bill that will require health insurers to provide autism coverage.  It also added an amendment that deleted certain language which resulted in the bill’s creator, House Speaker Denny O’Brien, saying that he no longer supported the bill.

After the bill returned to the House for its approval, however, the two chambers reached a compromise and the House passed a version with an amendment that makes both sides happy.  Reportedly, the bill will now easily pass again in the Senate, and soon afterwards be signed by Gov. Rendell.

PHC4 and MCARE, however, are not as lucky.   PHC4 closed its doors on Monday after legislators failed to pass a bill to reauthorize it and provide for its funding. 

Reports the Associated Press:

The council’s spokesman says that “Right now we are still hopeful that they are going to resolve the situation before they leave for the summer recess,” which could begin as early as Thursday.

However, it looks as if the council’s fate is contingent on two factors.  The Senate will only approve its reauthorization if the bill remains tied to provision that would extend the authorization of MCARE, a malpractice insurance subsidy for doctors.

And that reauthorization, reports the AP, will only be approved by Gov. Rendell if his plan to extend health coverage to thousands more Pennsylvanians is approved.