June 20th, 2008

There was a public hearing on SB 1137, the PA ABC plan backed by Gov. Rendell, in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Wed., June 18th.  At the hearing, two witnesses testified that the estimated price-tag of the House-passed healthcare insurance package could be very inaccurate.  A former insurance regulator from Massachusetts – where they have enacted wide-spread insurance coverage – explained that the downfall of state-subsidized health insurance is that if mostly unhealthy residents are covered their premiums will be very high.  This makes it very hard - almost impossible -to estimate how much the program would cost.

Three witnesses testified in support of the plan.  Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, director of a community health clinic, talked about what uninsured Pennsylvanians must go through, and how they often don’t seek the care or tests they need in fear of having to pay the bill out of pocket.  She also stated that the Senate GOP’s HealthNET PA plan lacks substance and wouldn’t work. 

Committee chairman Sen. Don White (R-Indiana) has no plans to act on the bill before it has been fully examined and discussed.  This past week the Governor, as well as many legislators, have said that healthcare reform will probably have to wait until the fall.