October 6th, 2008

This week Gov, Rendell, Senate Democrats and advocates for the uninsured are making a last ditch effort to get expansion of state subsidized health insurance passed through the Legislature, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Senate Republicans maintain that with the economic downturn even Rendell’s “scaled-back” plan at $2.6 billion in five years is a pricetag that the state cannot afford right now.  Advocates for the uninsured argue back that with more people losing their jobs now more than ever is this expansion of health insurance needed.

In Rendell’s scale-back he removed the need for new or higher tobacco taxes, lowered the number of residents who would be insured, limited the benefits they would initially recieve to prescriptions and behaviorial health services.  The new proposal also includes $2.43 billion in state funds to help doctors who pay over 500,000 annually in malpractice insurance.

Although Republicans still question the affordability of Rendell’s plan, Senate Public Health and Welfare Chairman Edwin Erickson, R-Delaware, says that he is not ruling out a last minute compromise with the Administration.

“We are still working,” Erickson said. “I remain one of the people optimistic on the issue.”