March 4th, 2009

Reports the Altoona Mirror:

The state Senate is working on a plan to copy a free Altoona health care clinic that serves adults who don’t qualify for Medicaid but can’t afford insurance.

Proposed last year by clinic founder Dr. Zane Gates, the plan has gained traction because it refocused debate from insuring the 1 million Pennsylvanians without health plans to treating them, said state Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester, who toured the clinic with colleague Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, Tuesday.

HealthNETPA would allocate $50 million to expand an existing network of clinics, providing health care for an additional 175,000 uninsured and using earned-income tax credits as incentive for business contributions to support the clinics.

Hospitals would provide free lab testing and radiology, a tradeoff in support of a service that siphons off nonpaying users of emergency rooms.

Patients would pay $75 to $80 for hospital insurance for major illnesses beyond the capability of the clinics.

Read more about the Senate Republicans’ plan, and the Altoona clinic, at the Altoona Mirror.