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For Immediate
Release
3/19/09
Committee Approves
HealthNET Bills to Expand Access to Community Health Care, Physicians, Medicine
Among six
HealthNET PA measures moving forward in the Senate.
Harrisburg – Legislation that
would expand access to community health care, physicians and medicine across
Pennsylvania was approved by the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
The bills are among six HealthNET
PA measures moving forward in the Senate, according to committee Chairman Ted
Erickson (R-26).
"The need to increase access to
health care in Pennsylvania is pressing, and I'm pleased to see these important
bills moving forward," said Erickson. "The HealthNET PA plan is comprehensive
and affordable, and we'll continue to work to get these bills before the full
Senate and, hopefully, enacted as soon as possible."
The committee approved the
following HealthNET PA bills Tuesday:
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Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Senator Erickson, would establish the
Community-Based Healthcare Program for the expansion and site development of
health care clinics across Pennsylvania. This would provide "medical homes"
for 175,000 working poor clients and ease pressure on hospital emergency
rooms.
-
Senate Bill 314, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36), creates the
Keystone Care Program, a network through which doctors, hospitals, nurses,
physician assistants and others would be encouraged to volunteer their
services, offering expanded health care capacity and access to specialty
services for those with a demonstrated need. The program would provide
grants to an approved health care resource network.
-
Senate Bill 335, sponsored by Sen. Chuck
McIlhinney (R-10), would make
low-cost prescription drugs available through the state's community-based
health care clinics. The program would link low-income adults who lack
prescription drug coverage to the appropriate free or low-cost prescription
assistance programs, and direct the state Department of Welfare to maintain
a registry of free and low-cost prescription drug programs and make the
information available online.
In addition, the following three
HealthNET PA bills were approved by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
last week:
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Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Sen. Don White (R-41), would provide
"Mini-Cobra" coverage for small business employers, creating a high-risk
pool for individuals who cannot access other coverage.
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Senate Bill 189, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-34), would extend the
option of dependent coverage to age 30. (Nearly half of uninsured
Pennsylvanians are age 18-34.)
-
Senate Bill 443, also introduced by Senator White, would permit health
insurers to withhold payment to providers in the event of a medical error.
The HealthNET PA plan would expand access to health care and medicine to more
than 500,000 uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians. It would utilize
information technology to control costs and reduce health care-associated
infections, and provide expanded insurance options for employers and families,
and will incorporate the concepts of disease prevention and wellness.
CONTACT:
Tom Golden
(717) 787-1350
Additional Information:
Health Care
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