Categories
|
March 1, 2012, 4:03 pm
A group of Senate Democrats and advocates led by Sen. Michael Stack (D-Philadelphia) gathered in the Capitol Media Center to hold a press conference mourning the loss of the adultBasic health insurance program on the one year anniversary of its defunding.
“This is a day of remembrance,” Sen. Stack said, noting it was one year ago when “40,000 Pennsylvanians were booted from their adultBasic health coverage.” He said, “They just needed a hand up to stay healthy and go to work. Instead they got a smack down from Gov. Corbett.”
Sen. Stack relayed of those that lost coverage, only 40 percent were able to find new coverage with Medical Assistance, Special Care, or Pennsylvania Fair Care. Programs he said that offer fewer benefits at five times the cost. He also said this number does not include the thousands that were on the adultBasic waiting list. Sen. Stack said this action by the administration is “predictable” as part of it “attacking the middle class.”
The full story is available in the Around the Capital Section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox.
February 29, 2012, 3:02 pm
A day after the one year anniversary of the end of the adultBasic health insurance program, a group of advocates and providers held a media conference call to recount the losses stemming from the end of the program. Several advocates, consumers, and providers discussed their experiences since the program ended and their struggles with alternative forms of health insurance.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
September 7, 2011, 12:44 pm
The Pennsylvania Health Access Network conducted a statewide conference call today to urge Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine to hold a public hearing on Highmark’s plan to increase rates for Special Care and to determine whether or not the increase is necessary. Special Care is the plan offered to individuals who had their adultBasic coverage terminated in March of this year. According to the group, last week a petition with over 3.000 signatures was submitted to the Commissioner urging a public hearing on the matter. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
June 2, 2011, 12:42 pm
Auditor General Jack Wagner held a press conference today to discuss the results of public hearings about how millions of incoming tobacco settlement dollars should be used. Wagner stated that the people who testified represent millions of Pennsylvanians who think the dollars should be spent on health-related programs as mandated by the Tobacco Settlement Act of 2001. Wagner regarded the report as “one of the most educational pieces of information related to tobacco settlement funds” that he has ever read. Check out the Press Conferences section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.
March 23, 2011, 2:55 pm
The House Appropriations Committee met with the insurance commissioner for a budget hearing. The bulk of questioning related to the recent end of the adultBasic program. Members of both sides of the aisle asked about future options for former enrollees and questioned the how the end of the program was handled. Members also asked about insurance mandates and oversight of premiums, as well as a variety of other subjects.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this evening.
March 17, 2011, 4:01 pm
The Senate Appropriations Committee held its final budget hearing of the week with the Insurance Department. Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine and staff fielded questions from the committee regarding the department and its FY 2011-2012 budget request.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more.
March 9, 2011, 10:45 am
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Michael Consedine as Insurance Commissioner this morning, moving the process forward for a full vote by the Senate. During his confirmation hearing Consedine spoke to the multitude of challenges facing the Pennsylvania insurance market, including healthcare reform, the Mcare Fund, the Blues’ surplus accounts, and adultBasic among others. PLS subscribers check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
March 3, 2011, 12:48 pm
The House Democratic Policy Committee met today to discuss the events that led to the end of the adultBasic health insurance program and possible options to resume the program or otherwise provide coverage to the 41,000 people that are now without coverage. Several proposals were discussed as well as the question of whether the Blues are legally obligated to provide funding.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
January 14, 2011, 11:59 am
Members of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network and recipients of health care under the state’s adultBasic program today delivered more than 4,000 signatures to Governor-elect Tom Corbett’s transition office urging the governor-elect and legislature to work together to preserve adultBasic. A current solution to funding adultBasic would result in as much as a 400% increase in cost for recipients, a solution advocates consider nonviable.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox.
May 4, 2010, 12:26 pm
With the current Community Health Reinvestment agreement set to expire on December 31, 2010, the House Insurance Committee conducted a public hearing on HB 2455 which would provide funding for continuing the adultBasic program and replace the agreement. The legislation requires every Blue Plan to file an annual application with the Insurance Department setting forth its proposed community health reinvestment for the upcoming fiscal year. That reinvestment amount would be 2.4% of health premiums less taxes paid on those premiums. The committee received testimony from representatives from the “Blues”, Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario, the PA Health Access Network and Community Legal Services. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
|
|
