Will legislators watch fireworks with the family? Deweese thinks yes.
House Majority Leader Bill Deweese (D-Greene) thinks that this year’s budget could be worked out by the July 4th holiday, while other lawmakers fear that negotiations could run past mid-July, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Wed’s Senate Committee Hearing on PA ABC plan
At the hearing, two witnesses testified that the estimated price-tag of the House-passed healthcare insurance package could be very inaccurate. 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.
Weekly Wrap: June 16th – 20th
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. To read about what happened at the hearing, click here.
SB 1337, a bill for P&T Committee transparency, was amended in the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee and then [...]
Gov. Rendell declares health care reform must increase insured
The Morning Call reports on recent remarks by Gov. Rendell about health care reform in Pennsylvania.
Healthcare plan will probably sit on Legislatures’ back burner until fall
Yesterday Gov. Rendell stated that working out the main components of a healthcare plan to help the state’s uninsured is probably going to have to wait until September, when the lawmakers return for fall session, reports the Morning Call. Rendell sees this as an advantage, as the nearing Nov. election will prompt legislators to work a bit harder to “approve a conerstone of his second-term agenda.”
Senate Insurance Committee hearing on PA ABC bill tomorrow 1:00 PM
Tomorrow, Wed. June 18th, the Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee will hold a public hearing on the SB 1137 (the PA ABC plan, backed by House D’s and Gov. Rendell) for the first time. The hearing is scheduled for Room 8E-A, East Wing at 1:00 PM and is expected to be two hours long.
Mark Stier: GOP health-care plan inadaquate
Mark Stier, health care campaign manager for the Service Employees International Union’s Pennsylvania State Council, explains in his As I see it, Patriot-News column today why the Republicans HealthNET PA plan won’t be adaquate to help the uninsured — if it even works at all.
State legislators, Rendell in summer fray over healthcare reform plans
At the end of the summer session, legislators will be returning to their district and most to campaigning and a November election. (All 203 house members and half of the 50 senators are up for reelection this year). With the cost of healthcare at the top of Pennsylvanians concerns, it is unlikely that most of these members want to return to their constituents without making at least some progress on healthcare reform.
PA ABC stalled in Senate, some businesses have problems with the plan
Earlier this year, the state House amended and passed SB 1137, establishing the new health insurance plan PA ABC and linking it to the doctor’s MCARE fund, which helps pay for their liability insurance, reports the Central Penn Business Journal.
Bi-partisan group of lawmakers will urge Senate to pass PA ABC
A bipartisan group of state legislators will come together today in Montgomery County to urge the state Senate to pass a healthcare bill (Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care) that passed the House in March, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.