http://www.healthpointpa.com Where PA comes to chat about health policies and issues... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:39:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Senate leadership elections were fairly boring yesterday, as expectedly not much changed in either caucus.  The only big shake-ups came from the retiring Majority and Minority Chairmen of the Appropriations Committee -- which will be especially instrumental this year with the budget deficit growing.  Senate Republicans chose Jake Corman (R-Centre) over Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) to replace retiring ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/senate-leadership-elections-kind-of-a-snore/ Physician and governor of a chapter of the American College of Physicians Richard Simons is deeply concerned about the declining number of primary care physicians in our state. Simon writes in the Patriot News: "Pennsylvania currently has approximately 12,000 primary care physicians, who comprise 34 percent of the physicians in the commonwealth. Nearly ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/worried-pa-physician-says-legislation-needed-to-keep-primary-care-docs-in-state/ Gov. Rendell signed an executive order yesterday to extend the life of Pennsylvania Health Care Containment Council (PHC4), a health wathdog agency, through June 30th.  The order comes after an initial executive order this summer, which reauthorized the agency through November, reports the Central Penn Business Journal.  The Senate failed to reauthorize the ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/rendell-reauthorizes-phc4-through-june/ The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 10-4 to recommend that Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario block the merger of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross.  However, this recomendation is non-binding and Ario will still have the final decision, which he says will not come before mid January. Read the full article from the ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/senate-committee-voted-to-oppose-blues-merger-today/ The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee is scheduled to meet today at 12:30 to consider recommendations on the proposed merger between Highmark, Inc., and Independence Blue Cross. The meeting is scheduled in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building. Both legislative insurance committees have until next week to provide the ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/senate-committee-to-discuss-blues-merger-today/ Yesterday, House Republicans tried to bring up a bill concerning physician MCARE abatement for a vote, but met resistance from House Democrats.  Anger has ensued. As of this morning, Republican Reps. Sam Smith, Katharine Watson and Scott Boyd have issued press releases railing the Democrats for avoiding a vote on the issue. The ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/house-republicans-democrats-spar-over-healthcare-legislation/ A government watch-dog group has asked the Senate Ethics Commission to undertake an investigation on whether Sen. Mellow's paid position on the board of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a conflict of interest, reports the Times-Tribune.   The group, RockTheCapital.org, believes that Mellow's position on the board is a conflict because ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/group-requests-ethics-investigation-of-sen-mellows-position-on-blue-cross-board/ Here's who outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted their colleagues for House caucus leadership positions in yesterday's elections. Democrats Speaker of the House: Current House Majority Whip Keith McCall (D-Carbon) was elected without opposition. Majority Leader: Current House Majority Policy Chairman Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) beat Majority Caucus Secretary Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) to grab the post that ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/and-the-winners-are/ Reports the New York Times: "Physicians at four European universities have completed what they say is the first successful transplant of a human windpipe using a patient’s own stem cells to fashion an organ and prevent its rejection by her immune system, according to an article in the British medical journal ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/breakthrough-in-stem-cell-surgery-is-providing-hope/ Today the Philadelphia Inquirer editorializes on the proposed Blues merger, on which Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario will soon make a decision.  The Inquirer says that the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee should recommend Ario to disapprove the merger, because it provides little to no benefit for consumers.  Plus, a "no" recommendation ... http://www.healthpointpa.com/archives/philadelphia-inquirer-senate-committee-should-recommend-a-rejection-of-blues-merger/