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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE 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
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