Walk in PGH for Ovarian Cancer Awareness next month

August 27th, 2008

Rep. Sean Ramaley (D- Beaver) is reminding constituents to head out to the 8th annual Karen F. Bowers Memorial Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Walk in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Consumer Driven Health Care Workshop in Hbg next Wednesday

August 26th, 2008

The workshop will address how to buy health insurance, how to manage your HSA or HRA, and how to shop for medical services. You’ll also get an update on the legislative/regulatory environment for health care policy.

Standard-Speaker: Choose public good over politics and reauthorize PHC4

August 25th, 2008

Today, the Standard Speaker editorialized that the Legislature’s political tug-of-war over the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) needs to end promptly in reauthorization this fall — in the name of public good and patient safety.

House hearing scheduled to review regulations for assisted-living facilities

August 25th, 2008

Currently, Pennsylvania has no specific regulations for assisted living facilities. A House Health and Human Services Committee hearing will be held on Sept. 18th to examine certain proposed regulations, which some in the industry say would raise their costs and hurt the facilities.

Senator Mellow to make more on Blue Cross board than originally announced

August 12th, 2008

The Daily Review reports today that Senator Robert Mellow(D-22) could recieve much more from his board position with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania than initially announced.

Celebrate National Health Center Week

August 12th, 2008

Each year, the second week of August is set aside as National Health Center Week to recognize the contributions of health centers in providing access to affordable and high quality health care to medically vulnerable and underserved Americans.

House hearings on healthcare reform and mental health today

August 11th, 2008

 House Insurance Committee, 1:00p, Township Building, 1001 Stump Road, Montgomeryville, PA.
Public hearing on Health Care Reform. 
House Health and Human Services Committee, 1:00p, Room 140, (Majority Caucus Room), Main Capitol.
Subcommittee on Health public hearing on mental health and substance abuse.

Daily Review: Sen. Mellow’s Blues board seat is clear conflict of interest

August 4th, 2008

The Towanda Daily Review editorialized today, saying that Sen. Mellow’s (D-Lackawanna) new board position with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a definite conflict of interest for the sole reason that the interests of the company are not necessarily the same as the interests of Mellow’s constituents.

Upcoming Fall Session Days

August 1st, 2008

The Senate has announced that it will not be having a sine die session (session days that come after the Nov. 4 election), while the House will be in session for 7 days in November. Meanwhile, Sen. Piccola (R-Dauphin) started calling for a special legislative session on reform after the “Bonus Gate” indictments were announced on July 10th.

U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee held hearing on proposed merger

July 31st, 2008

The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights held a hearing this afternoon to discuss the proposed merger between Highmark and IBC, titled “Consolidation in The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Industry: The Right Prescription?”