Senate R’s want network of community clinics across PA to cover uninsured
Yesterday the Senate Republicans unveiled their HealthNET PA plan, which proposes having a network of community health clinics, volunteer doctors and facilities to cover the uninsured across the state, states the Patriot-News. They claim that their plan will cover more uninsured Pennsylvanians than the House D’s PA ABC plan, while costing less.
“I’m not surprised they are calling it ‘HealthNET’ because it’s full of holes,” said Bob Caton, a spokesman for House Democrats.
Caton maintains that this plan won’t work because most of the state’s uninsured live in very rural areas, where there is already a shortage of doctors and therefore not enough staff for the proposed clinics. He also said that the state’s doctors are too busy to regularly volunteer to provide care for patients with no insurance.
For more details on the plan, visit the Senate Republicans site.
Details of Senate Republicans’ HealthNET PA package
Senate Republicans issued a press release today outlining the bills which make up their comprehensive healthcare reform package, which they say is “designed to improve health care access and affordability by building on approaches that are working and doing it in a fiscally responsible way.”
Radio listeners may have already heard ads in support of PA ABC
Radio ads highlighting the opportunity for health insurance expansion for the uninsured have begun running on three Pennsylvania radio outlets, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), the coalition which released the ads and is a vocal supporter of SB 1137, or Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care (PA ABC).
Budget Update: June 9th
Gov. Rendell met with Legislative Leaders last week to start budget negotiations. The biggest difference that needs to be worked out between the Gov./Democrats and the Republicans is a $340 million funding gap.
Weekly Wrap: June 2nd – 6th
SB 1373, which allows for annual funds to be allotted to mental health and retardation programs, passed in the Senate on Tues. June 3rd, with a vote of Y:43, N:7. Erickson’s bill had the support of 28 Republicans and 15 Democrats. It will now move onto the House to be assigned to a committee.
There was a public [...]
Budget Update
The House and Senate return this week, Monday June 2nd, to begin final preparations for the Fiscal Year 08 – 09 budget.
Sen. Mellow now backs health care measure
After opposing a bill to expand Pennsylvania’s health coverage to uninsured adults, the Senate’s Democratic minority leader is now optimistic lawmakers can pass a compromise measure before the term ends in June, reports the Times-Tribune.
Plans to help the uninsured
A comparison of plans to cover the uninsured in Pennsylvania.