Statement from the Pennsylvania Medical Society in Response Regarding HealthNET PA
The following is a statement from Peter S. Lund, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society regarding the Pennsylvania Senate releasing details of their HealthNET PA plan. Dr. Lund is a practicing urologist from Erie, Pa.
Today, the Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans released details of its HealthNET PA program, a plan designed to provide health care access to 507,000 Pennsylvanians currently without health insurance.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society has received information on the plan, and is currently reviewing its details.
With that said, the Pennsylvania Medical Society thanks the Senate Republicans for opening new portals for a full discussion on the future of health care delivery in our state. And, while we are still in our initial review phase, we do believe that Pennsylvania’s great health care debate can now begin. Both sides have offered their plans. Earlier, Governor Rendell and Democrats in the House of Representatives provided details of their plan, and now the Senate Republicans have done the same. In other words, all cards are now on the table for everyone to review, discuss, and debate.
A quick review of the Senate Republican plan indicates that their model would involve the private sector, and the financial mechanisms appear positive in running the program. HealthNET PA also delinks Mcare and health insurance, allowing each to stand on its own merit and doesn’t hold one hostage to the other from year to year.
But, HealthNET PA with its 15 separate bills is complex and has many parts which could become a challenge in passing through our legislative chambers. It will need bi-partisan support.
What’s most important is that our state can now move forward in its discussions on how to build an affordable and sustainable health care network in order to decrease the number of uninsured Pennsylvanians.
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Last Updated: 6/10/2008