|
For Immediate
Release
1/19/10
Senator Ted Erickson (R-26) Guest Column:
Federal Health Care Legislation
Currently, I and other members of the general public are sitting and holding
our breath while a handful of U.S. House and Senate leaders and the President
craft an overhaul of the nation’s health care marketplace in secrecy. The deal
that these individuals reach to guarantee health insurance – NOT health care
services – to the people of the United States will impact the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, its citizens, and our budget for years to come.
Unfortunately, our elected officials in Washington are attempting to address
health care access with a "one size fits all" solution, without taking into
account the differences that exist across the nation. Just last week, the New
York Times pointed out that the national approach might result in some states
having significantly better or worse health insurance coverage. Further, the
Administration in Washington is advocating an approach that will carry a high
price tag, will not guarantee health care services to anyone, and our
Commonwealth will be forced to bear the costs of expanding Medicaid and
implementing and enforcing new federal programs.
Of even greater concern are the costs that our citizens will have to bear as
a result of the "deals" being cut by other states: $3.5 billion to Florida so
seniors in that state can keep their Medicare Advantage plans, $600 million to
Vermont and $500 million to Massachusetts for their Medicaid programs, and the
agreement to permanently fund the entire increased costs in Nebraska as a result
of an expansion of the Medicaid program.
Not only are such deals wrong on their face, they will also
disproportionately increase the cost of any new federal program for Pennsylvania
and other states who are playing by the rules.
Here in Pennsylvania, we have made great strides in helping ensure that our
residents have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. We have been
providing prescription drug assistance to our state’s low- and middle-income
seniors since the 1980s. In the early 1990s, we established CHIP (Children’s
Health Insurance Program) to provide health care to uninsured children. Our
successful program became the model for other states, and also for the eventual
creation of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program. Building on that
program, we created the adultBasic Program, to help adults without health care
insurance.
We continue to reevaluate our health care marketplace in Pennsylvania and
make changes as needed. We have expanded CHIP so that ALL children in
Pennsylvania have access to needed health care services. Legislation enacted to
reduce the number of health care associated infections was implemented just two
years ago, but by increasing awareness of how infections drive up health care
costs and ways to prevent infections in a health care setting, our law is a
model for the nation and is making an impact – in reduced costs, and more
importantly in patients’ lives.
We were successful in obtaining $3 million in the budget this year to expand
the use of community-based health clinics for those who do not have health
insurance. Clinics reduce costly emergency room visits for non-emergency
conditions, and serve as "medical homes," providing necessary preventative
care. Unfortunately, this critical funding has been placed in budgetary
reserve.
We have enacted legislation to expand family health insurance coverage to
include adult dependent children up to age 30 (who make up roughly half of
Pennsylvania’s uninsured), and to establish a COBRA for small businesses.
It is imperative that Pennsylvania retain the ability to build on its
successes, and to help those who still are without access to needed health care
services. Along with my fellow members of the Senate Republican Caucus, I will
continue to work to implement a strategy in our Commonwealth to reduce health
care costs, improve the quality of health care services, and increase access so
that no Pennsylvanian will be without needed services.
Senator Erickson is Chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee. The
26th District covers parts of Chester and Delaware counties.
Contact:
Tom Golden
Office of Senator Ted Erickson
717-787-1350
Additional Information:
Health Care
 Print this page
E-mail
this page
Back |
