Health Care

Health Care

Senate Republicans led the effort to give Pennsylvanians the ability to open tax-exempt Health Savings Accounts to cover health care costs, curb skyrocketing medical liability premiums that drive up health care costs, and integrate state and federal prescription drug plans for seniors.

Patient safety efforts launched in 2002 with passage of the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act were further enhanced in 2007 by a new law THAT will help prevent, track and, ultimately, reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections.

Moving Pennsylvania toward a health care system that slashes costs through innovation, expands access and protects consumer choice remains a top priority of Senate Republicans.

2008 Senate Budget Hearings

Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-Indiana) and Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), question the Administration's proposal to fund an expanded health care plan with the money meant to pay down the unfunded liability in the MCARE fund, a program that retains doctors in Pennsylvania by subsidizing medical liability insurance.
- Senator Don White
- Senator Mary Jo White

Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) and Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) debate funding for "Cover All Pennsylvanians" with Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario.
- Senator Browne
- Senator Corman

Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) raises concerns to Budget Secretary Michael Masch about the high cost of the Governor’s new health care proposals.

Senator Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) questions Budget Secretary Michael Masch about a provision of the Administration's PACE plan that gives higher rebates to seniors in urban areas of the state.

Sen. Roger Madigan (R-Bradford) urges Secretary of Health Calvin Johnson not to weaken the privacy of patient treatment records.

During the budget hearing for the Department of Health, Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) comments on the need to work with schools on a childhood obesity program.

Senator Jake Corman (R-34) and Senator John Pippy (R-37) tell Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman that the state could afford Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for community care providers if the Administration was not pursuing so many other questionable, expensive initiatives.
- Senator Corman
- Senator Pippy

Senator John Gordner (R-27) suggests that the Administration's proposed $120 million program to provide checks to individuals who do not pay taxes would be better used to provide non-medical service providers a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Senate Approves Plan to Reduce Health Care-Associated Infections

The Senate approved a new law, Act 52 of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), that will help prevent, track and, ultimately, reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) affect an estimated two million Americans a year, with more than 100,000 dying from bacteria that are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. Infections picked up in hospitals and other health care facilities add more than $8,000 to the cost of the average hospital stay and cause unnecessary health consequences.

Act 52 establishes the steps to be taken by state government agencies and health care facilities to identify and reduce infections. It requires hospitals, nursing homes and ambulatory surgical facilities to implement internal infection control plans that will improve the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers.

Pennsylvania hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgical facilities will be the first in the nation to report infections to the National Healthcare Safety Network, an internet-based surveillance system operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that will co ordinate information, allowing Pennsylvania to develop effective tools to attack this problem in a measurable way.

New Law Provides Long-Term Care Insurance Incentives

A Senate bill has been signed into law to provide a strong financial incentive for consumers to invest in long-term care insurance and reduce financial costs to taxpayers.

Senate Bill 548, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), would create the Long-Term Care (LTC) Partnership Program, which would provide a financial incentive for individuals to buy LTC insurance, and orders the state Department of Public Welfare to file Pennsylvania’s state plan for LTC insurance with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by June 30th of this year. The measure is intended to give people the opportunity to protect their personal assets by buying the insurance. The Department of Public Welfare missed its self-imposed deadline to submit Pennsylvania’s plan to the federal government, which necessitated the legislation.

Under the current system, health care consumers are required to spend down 'their assets before taxpayer-funded Medicaid steps in to cover the expenses associated with long-term care. As a result, many individuals and families lose all of their assets well before they go into long-term care, and then taxpayers are forced to pick up the costs, which can be significant.

Licensing Standards Established for Assisted Living Facilities

For the first time, assisted living facilities will be licensed in Pennsylvania, defining such residences and the services that may be offered.

Act 56 of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-31), sets minimal standards for the regulation of the industry by the state Department of Public Welfare and supports the philosophy that individuals should be permitted to remain in a home-like atmosphere of their choice for as long as possible.

Although many personal care homes often refer to themselves as assisted living facilities, there currently is no official licensure category for this type of care. By creating this type of license, citizens will be able to determine what kind of services to expect and whether the setting will address their needs.

New Law Provides Staffing Flexibility

A package of bills recently became law that will give health care facilities more flexibility in staffing, allowing them to better use their resources and keep health care costs down.

The measures increase the number of physician assistants that may be supervised by a physician, and broadens the work that can be done by Certified Nurse Practitioners and nurse-midwives.

Nurses will be able to order certain medical equipment and care, make referrals for certain types of therapy and dietitian referrals, and perform other functions. Nurse-midwives will be able to prescribe, dispense, order and administer specific drugs.

Nurses play a vital role in providing quality health care, and expanding their scope of practice means physicians can spend their time more cost-effectively.

All of these changes include measures to protect patient safety.

Senate Passes Bill to Help Doctors, Hospitals Digitize Medical Records

The Senate approved legislation to help hospitals, doctor’s offices, and health care clinics create computerized systems to better diagnose and treat patients.

Currently, 90 percent of health care data information is exchanged via telephone, fax, or mail. Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Senate Communications and Technology Committee Chairman Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), would enable grant recipients to receive up to $1 million in matching funds to purchase health information technology, help pay the costs and expenses associated with implementation, and train personnel in the use of the new system.

In addition to improving health care quality and reducing costs, Senate Bill 8 would help make the medical process more convenient for consumers. Patients would be able to get their lab results sent to their home computer, prescription drugs could be renewed with a click of a button, individuals could receive medical advice from their doctor over the internet, and parents could print out their child’s immunization records at home.

Senate Acts Help Uninsured Cancer Patients Get Access To Medication

The Senate passed legislation to establish a cancer drug repository in Pennsylvania to help uninsured patients and those in need gain access to safe, unused cancer medications. Cancer patients who are uninsured or underinsured could access these medications through a network of participating pharmacies and medical clinics.
The American Cancer Society has stated that unused cancer medication is a valuable resource for low-income patients.

Under Senate Bill 638, sponsored by Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), a health care facility, health clinic, hospital, pharmacy or physician’s office could return unused drugs. Only medications in their original, sealed, and tamper-resistant packaging would be accepted and dispensed.

Senate Approves Legislation to Improve Access to Dental Care

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) to address the needs of Pennsylvanians without access to routine, preventive dental services.

Currently, the Commonwealth requires professional dental services to be delivered by or under the supervision of a dentist. There is an acute shortage of dentists willing to treat individuals on Medical Assistance and as a result, these individuals often only receive dental care when it is absolutely necessary. By allowing dental hygienists to provide preventive and routine care, Pennsylvania would prevent health problems related to poor dental care.

Senate Bill 455 would allow public health dental hygiene practitioners to provide services within their current scope of practice, in specified institutions such as nursing homes, schools, mobile dental units and correctional facilities without the supervision of a dentist. The dental hygiene practitioner would have to be certified by the State Board of Dentistry as having completed 3,600 hours of practice under the supervision of a licensed dentist and have a malpractice policy.

Senate Passes Bill to Post Personal Care Facility on Web

The licensure status of facilities caring for the elderly and disabled would be available via the Internet under legislation approved today by the Senate

Senate Bill 811, sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), would require the creation of a website with licensing and certification information on nursing homes, personal care homes and domiciliary care homes. This data would include information on violations of statute or regulation by the facility and any corrective action taken.

The state Department of Public Welfare disclosed earlier this year that 73 percent of personal care homes in the state have not been inspected on time.

Healthy Pennsylvania

Senate Majority Policy Committee Holds Hearing on Affordability of Healthcare
- Part 1 (running time 1 hour 13 minutes)
- Part 2 (running time 1 hour 22 minutes)

Committee Holds Public Hearing on DPW Pharmaceutical Carve-Out Proposal
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26), held a public hearing today on the state Department of Public Welfare's proposal to carve pharmaceutical services out of its managed care programs.
(full story)
- Part 1 (running time 56 minutes)
- Part 2 (running time 1 hour, 16 minutes)
- Sen. Erickson

Second Hearing on Health Centers and Care for Low-Income and Uninsured Pennsylvanians
As part of the ongoing effort to make quality health care more accessible in Pennsylvania, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), will hold a second public hearing tomorrow on the role that health centers play in providing care for low-income and uninsured Pennsylvanians.
(full story)

Committee Exploring Health Centers and Care for Low-Income and Uninsured Pennsylvanians
As part of the ongoing effort to make quality health care more accessible in Pennsylvania, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), is examining the role that health centers play in providing care for low-income and uninsured Pennsylvanians.
(full story)

Senator Corman: Affordability in Health Care is Key to Greater Access
As the governor and Legislature begin negotiations on this year's state budget, one of the key areas of debate will be health care.
(full story)

Senate Republicans Urge House to Consider One-Year Extension to MCare Abatement Program
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), and Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-41) today called on House leaders to consider legislation which would extend Pennsylvania's MCare abatement program for one year.
(full story)

Uninsured Pennsylvanians: Sen. Corman Discusses the Rendell Administration’s Plan
In January 2007, Governor Rendell first introduced his Prescription for Pennsylvania that included the Cover All Pennsylvanians health care plan. While sounding nice, the details left many with the feeling that CAP would be a bitter pill to swallow. In fact, over a year has passed and as more information comes out about the plan, the harder it is to swallow.
(full story)

Senator White Comments on House Democrat Health Care Plan
Senator Don White, Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, issued the following statement in response to the House Democrat health care proposal passed by the House of Representatives today.
(full story)

Uninsured Pennsylvanians: Who are the Uninsured? Sen. Jake Corman notes that 8% of Pennsylvania residents are without health insurance and fewer than 4% lack access to private insurance, and advocates measures that will lower the cost of health care so everyone who wants coverage has access.

Sen. Corman's Floor Remarks

Uninsured Pennsylvanians: Breaking Down the Numbers
Addressing the Senate on Monday, Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Ted Erickson (R-26) broke down the numbers of Pennsylvanians without health insurance and outlined an approach to increase access to coverage.
On Tuesday, Sen. Jake Corman (R-34) explained the $6.3 billion Pennsylvania spends to provide health insurance to those without it, and the need to reduce health care costs.
- Sen. Erickson
- Sen. Corman

Capital Blue Cross: Merger Would End Most Competition
The proposed merger of Highmark and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) would effectively end health care insurance competition in most of Pennsylvania, Capital Blue Cross CEO and President Anita Smith told the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
(full story)

Clock Strikes Twelve for MCARE Abatement
Midnight on December 31 not only caps off 2007, but marks the end of a program that Pennsylvania instituted to help health care providers in high-risk fields meet their state-mandated medical malpractice insurance requirements, according to Senator Don White (R-41 and Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee).
(full story)

Senate Again Approves Bill Extending MCARE
Senator Don White (R-41 and Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee) hailed the passage of another bill to extend the MCARE program, which provides a financial safety net to help Pennsylvania's health care providers cover their medical malpractice insurance costs.
(full story)
Sen. Don White
Sen. Pileggi
Sen. Corman

Statement of Senator Don White:
Raiding the MCARE Fund is not a "Healthy" Answer
Senator Don White, Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Governor's plan to raid the state's MCARE fund to pay for his universal health care proposal.
(full story)

Senate Approves Senator White's Bill Extending MCARE
The Senate approved Senate Bill 1137, a measure introduced by Senator Don White (R-41) to extend the MCARE program, which provides a financial safety net to help Pennsylvania’s health care providers cover their medical malpractice insurance costs.
(full story)
- Sen. Don White
- Sen. Rafferty

"Blues" Merger Must be Part of Fall Legislative Agenda
Following on the heels of a very strident clash over the state budget this year, Governor Ed Rendell has laid out a rather extensive agenda of issues he would like the General Assembly to consider this fall.
(full story)

Corman's Long-Term Care Insurance Incentive Bill Signed Into Law
Legislation written by Senator Jake Corman (R-34) that would provide a strong financial incentive for consumers to invest in long-term care insurance and reduce financial costs to taxpayers was signed into law by the Governor.
(full story)

Legislation to Ease Barriers to Routine Dental Care Heads to Governor, Vance Says

Legislation to improve access to routine, preventive dental care has been sent to the Governor after the House approved Sen. Pat Vance's (R-Cumberland/York) bill.
(full story)

Vance Legislation to License Assisted Living Facilities Sent to Governor

Assisted living facilities would be licensed under legislation the Senate sent to the Governor, said Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York), who is the prime sponsor.
(full story)

Erickson Bill to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections Heads to Governor

The state Senate passed and sent to the Governor legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) to reduce the number of healthcare‑associated infections in the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 968 will establish the steps to be taken by state government agencies and healthcare facilities to prevent, track, and reduce infections.
(full story)

Committee Approves Another "Blues Merger Oversight"

Reacting to the legislative inertia of the Rendell Administration, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved yet another bill intended to provide state oversight of proposed mergers involving non-profit health insurance companies, according to Senator Don White, Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
(full story)

Senator Wonderling Legislation to Create Cancer Drug Repository Passes Senate

The Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation (SB 638) to establish a cancer drug repository in Pennsylvania to help uninsured patients and those in need gain access to safe, unused cancer medications. Cancer patients who are uninsured or underinsured could access these medications through a network of participating pharmacies and medical clinics.
(full story)

Vance Legislation to Improve Access to Dental Care Passes Senate

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York) to address the needs of those without access to routine, preventive dental services.
(full story)

Senate Passes Vance Bill Addressing Inspection Backlog

The licensure status of facilities caring for the elderly and disabled would be available via the Internet under legislation approved by the Senate, said prime sponsor Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York).
(full story)

Senate Approves Erickson Plan to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) to reduce the number of healthcare‑associated infections was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 968 would establish the roles of state government and healthcare facilities in reducing the incidence of infections.
(full story)

Orie And Dinniman Introduce Legislation To Maximize Pennsylvania's Use Of Tobacco Settlement Funds
State Senators Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) and Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) announced the introduction of legislation which would implement the recommendations of a Senate Select Committee regarding Pennsylvania’s use of tobacco settlement funds.
(full story)

Senate Approves Corman's Long-Term Care Insurance Incentive
The state Senate this week unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Senator Jake Corman (R-34) that would provide a strong financial incentive for consumers to invest in long-term care insurance and reduce financial costs to taxpayers.
(full story)

Senate Sends Amended Blues Merger Bill Back to House
The Senate approved House Bill 112, legislation to provide state oversight of proposed mergers involving non-profit health insurance companies, and sent the amended bill back to the House for concurrence, according to Senator Don White, Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
(full story)

Greenleaf Smokefree Workplace Bill Approved by Committee
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee moved forward legislation sponsored by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf to provide smokefree workplaces and public places in Pennsylvania.
(full story)

Orie Again Introduces Legislation to Reform Pennsylvania's Medical Liability System
Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) announced the re-introduction of legislation that would provide demonstration grants to hospitals and affiliated physicians for the development and implementation of alternatives to litigation for resolving disputes.
(full story)