March 24th, 2011

This past Wednesday the US House Subcommittee on Health held a hearing at the state Capitol to debate the federal health-care law. Gov. Corbett, members of his administration, state lawmakers and private stakeholders alike, expressed their concerns regarding the Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

With the support of many, Corbett is pushing for the Obama administration to petition challenges of the law ahead to the U.S. Supreme Court, bypassing the lower appellate courts. Federal District Court judges have already denied individual mandates and the issues is projected to face the Supreme Court. Corbett’s urgency in pushing along the challenges  is of benefit to the many Americans who are confused about how the program will actually affect individual patients, states and businesses.

Gov. Corbett was quoted saying, “The law threatens every citizen’s individual liberty, leaving no area of individual decision-making beyond the reach of the federal government.”  As a state, Pennsylvania is one the many states involved in litigation against the PPACA.

A particular area of concern within the health-law program is the requirement of states to expand eligibility for Medicaid. PA Medicaid programs are currently supported by 20 percent of the state’s budget and the program’s requirement could cost the state an additional $2 billion between 2014-19.

Corbett plans to wait before deciding whether the state should start crafting its own state insurance exchange.