Clock runs out for health care reform this year…
With legislative action this week on PA’s dog law and energy legislation, there’s unfortunately not much for anybody to cheer about on the health care front.
Legislative Wrap-up 9/22 –> 10/3
Rendell scales back his health care plan and eliminates tobacco taxes as the source of funding, in an effort to create a compromise before session time runs out. Meanwhile, two Republican-backed initiatives to expand health insurance in PA unanimously passed the Senate last week and head to a House Committee for consideration. Time is also running out to reauthorize PHC4, as only 3 voting days remain for the Senate in this year’s session…
Death Rates down in PA hospitals
Pennsylvania’s hospitals saw declining death rates for 25 different procedures and conditions over the past four years.
Gov. wants more session days to reach compromise on healthcare & energy
Gov. Rendell said yesterday that both parties are coming closer to a compromise on healthcare policy, which will result in insurance for hundreds and thousands of currently uncovered Pennsylvanians. More session days are needed to come to a final deal, he says.
Standard-Speaker: Choose public good over politics and reauthorize PHC4
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 Majority Policy Committee hears testimony on plan to cover uninsured
Yesterday, the House Majority Policy Committee was in Dubois for the first in a series of hearings on how to best cover Pennsylvania’s uninsured residents, reports the Bradford Era.
Patriot-News: PHC4 suffers from use as political football during negotiations
The Patriot-News reported yesterday that although Gov. Rendell correctly reauthorized the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) until November, the council should never have been in this precarious position in the first place.
PA Health Access Network rep calls on Senate to move on health insurance plan
Berry Friesen, public affairs manager for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, editorializes in the Patriot-News about the need for a healthcare plan for Pennsylvania.
Slow economy has state revenue numbers lagging
The PA Dept. of Revenue collected $1.8 billion for the General Fund in May — $142.2 million less than expected. Revenue numbers have come in below estimates twice before, but never to the severe degree they have for May.
Senate: Budget bill to push along negotiations only
Yesterday a Senate Budget bill was passed on party lines, 29 -R v. 21 -D, cutting $400 million from Gov. Rendell’s proposed plan. However, Republican leaders say that that the vote was only an attempt to push along budget negotiations to get a plan passed by June 30th, and was not intended to derail negotiations between the leaders and the Gov, reports the Morning Call.