October 10th, 2008

The following is a press release issued today by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, describing their thoughts on healthcare action in PA:

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today recognized Senate lawmakers for protecting the long-term best interest of the Commonwealth and all residents in the ongoing health-care debate.

“The need to address Pennsylvania’s health-care affordability and accessibility concerns has never been in question, and both the administration and lawmakers deserve credit for wanting to find effective solutions,” said Gene Barr, PA Chamber vice president of government and public affairs. “The debate centers on developing a plan that is affordable and sustainable for the long term.”

Barr said the latest plan supported by the administration would only be sustainable for the short term, and only then if federal funding sources are actually available.

“Legitimate questions exist about the state’s ability to cover the number of uninsured the administration claims would be covered under its plan,” Barr stressed. “Rather than give Pennsylvanians false hope by approving a new government health-care plan that will fail to achieve its intended goal due to a lack of funding – at a time when the Commonwealth alone could be facing a potential revenue shortfall of more than $1 billion at the end of the fiscal year – Senate lawmakers offered an effective compromise that would begin to reduce the number of uninsured.”

The Senate’s counter-proposal to PA ABC would have provided coverage to individuals on the existing AdultBasic waiting list.

Barr said the Senate’s fiscally responsible HealthNetPA, along with a number of viable health-care reform options that have been offered in the General Assembly, including access to affordable care and factors that continue to drive up costs, warrant consideration by the administration.