Categories
|
May 2, 2012, 3:31 pm
Gov. Tom Corbett this afternoon announced that an agreement has been reached between Highmark and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), promising continuity of coverage for patients and their families throughout western Pennsylvania through 2014. The governor also answered questions from the media, addressing subjects including the budget, revenue projections, pension reform, business tax reform, and property tax relief. The governor declined to endorse any specific bills or funding restorations but stated his willingness to have discussions on most subjects.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox now.
March 7, 2012, 10:21 am
The Senate Banking and Insurance committee this morning voted along party lines to approve a measure by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) that would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to stipulate no one is required to purchase health insurance under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
In his remarks on the legislation, SB 10, Sen. Scarnati emphasized it is not an attack on “Obamacare,” but rather a defense against an attack on the 10th Amendment of the United State Constitution. Summing up Democratic opposition to the bill, Minority Chairman Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia) said the General Assembly should instead be focusing on implementing requirements such as a health insurance exchange, while the health care reform law moves inevitably to the Supreme Court for a final decision.
Committee Chairman Don White (R-Indiana) pointed out to members that being a constitutional amendment, the measure would need to be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and be put before a statewide referendum before it could be made law.
The committee moved several other pieces of legislation at its meeting, and also approved the nomination of Vincent Gastgeb to the Pennsylvania Securities Commission. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 16, 2012, 12:37 pm
The House Insurance committee held a public hearing this morning on legislation that would establish a new Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance within the Department of Community and Economic Development. Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver), prime sponsor of HB 717, characterized the hearing as a “timely opportunity” to discuss the legislation and the role of the Insurance Department as more of the federal Affordable Care Act comes online.
Representatives from the Insurance Department, the insurance industry and other stakeholders testified on the issue. Sam Marshall, president of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, indicated there is a feeling on the part of insurers that a new consumer advocate would complicate and confuse things for consumers, rather than streamline the complaint process. He noted however that dialogue on the issue is important going forward.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 10, 2012, 12:34 pm
The Coalition to Protect Women’s Health held a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda this morning to praise the decision of President Obama to ensure that all women have access to affordable birth control, regardless of the religious affiliation of their employer.
In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that women would have access to the birth control coverage benefit, without costly co-pays, no matter where they work. This means that nurses, secretaries, janitors at religiously affiliated hospitals and universities would have access to this benefit.
Sari Stevens of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates explained the importance of birth control in ensuring she did not start a family until she was ready and able to ensure her children could be raised in a healthy environment.
A recent college graduate discussed the value of access to affordable birth control to ensure that she was able to pursue her education. She remarked on the personal choice in choosing to use birth control and stated that, for her, it was a responsible decision to delay pregnancy and pursue education. Another speaker, a Catholic, explained that Catholic women use birth control at the same rate as non-Catholic women. She emphasized
Continue reading Coalition to Protect Women’s Health Hails President’s Efforts to Ensure Access to Affordable Birth Control
October 18, 2011, 12:13 pm
Legislators urge UPMC-Highmark settlement
A bipartisan group of House and Senate members from the Allegheny region of the state today urged UPMC and Highmark to resolve an ongoing contractual dispute they fear could leave millions of western Pennsylvanians with increasingly limited access to health care.
Both the House and Senate Insurance Committees are holding hearings on the issue, to determine what options are available to minimize the impact of the ongoing contract impasse. Lawmakers have drawn up several measures intended to safeguard residents if the two groups cannot come to an agreement.
Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), Minority Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, announced the introduction of HB 32, which would empower the Insurance Commissioner to step into contract disputes and require the continuation of a contract if it is in the best interest of residents.
Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) has introduced HB 1910, which would ensure specialty hospitals such as the Magee-Womens Hospital remain available to patients who need them due to the dispute.
“We need everyone to come back to the table and remember the reason they got involved in health care at the start,” Rep. DeLuca said. “To help people, and to do no harm.”
Continue reading Allegheny lawmakers urge resolution to UPMC-Highmark dispute; warn of intervention
June 15, 2011, 10:52 am
The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met to consider bills and moved all bills on the agenda to the House floor. Of note on the agenda were SB 654, relating to cancer presumptions for firefighters and HB 1344, requiring insurance companies to make direct payment to ambulance corps for emergency services provided. On HB 1344, it was noted the amended version of the bill reflects a “huge concession” from the ambulance corps as they give up balanced billing.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full details.
May 23, 2011, 12:53 pm
Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) held a press conference today to reintroduce legislation that would restore Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law with the addition of two new bills dealing with motorcycle safety issues. The two new bills would require motorcycle riders who choose not to wear a helmet to carry additional insurance and would provide for special motorcycle license plates for those riders under the age of 21. Rep. Frankel was joined by three experts on the issue, Christopher Hart, vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Dr. Kristen Mertz of the University of Pittsburgh, Leora Wile, government affairs chairman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Nurses Association, and also the father of a crash victim, Patrick Steinbacher.
“Many studies have shown that motorcycle helmets save lives, helmet laws save lives, and helmet law repeals lead to increased head injuries and deaths,” Dr. Kristen Mertz commented. While saving lives is the most important goal of restoring the helmet law, it would also lower the cost to taxpayers and insurance ratepayers of deaths and head injuries that could have been preventable.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
April 27, 2011, 11:26 am
The House Insurance Committee held their third and final informational meeting regarding medical malpractice insurance. Clifford Rieders and Tom Previc spoke on behalf of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, which is composed of medical malpractice insurance attorneys. Rieders mentioned the problem of infections, certificate of merit, and the CAT fund.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon for the complete story.
April 26, 2011, 12:30 pm
Representatives from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department testified before the House Insurance Committee on the various duties, roles and responsibilities the Department plays with respect to the Commonwealth’s insurance industry. Deputy commissioners from the Department’s bureaus discussed corporate and financial regulation, solvency and market regulation, Mcare, CHIP and numerous other funds over which the Department has oversight. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for 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.
|
|
