Health Insurance Freedom

Welcome to the party Governor Rendell, but you forgot why you came ...

In the week prior to the 2006 election, Governor Rendell publicly stated that he supported the concept of a single payer approach to health care in lieu of the current and inefficient multiplicity of private and (alleged) non-profit insurers.  He even promised to sign a single payer bill if it came to his desk.  Check it out at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAfwiRY-RYA

He won the election and then began to leak hints that the $1 million study started in December 2005, was finished and he would announce his health care plan in January 2007.  Of course, it was all very hush hush - even the members of his 100 person advisory panel were not allowed to see the plan until just minutes before the Governor's highly promoted press conference of today, January 17, 2007.

After a 20 minute statement of the problem, and the need for courageous and bold solutions, all worthy of the most starry eyed progressive - the Governor then failed to deliver.  Not only was his plan NOT single payer - worse than that it mandates that all Pennsylvanians buy private health insurance.  This echo of the Massachusetts Mirage may be the insurance industry's wildest dream come true but it is a disappointment for Pennsylvanians who reasonably expected more after four years and a million dollar investment.

His proposals, not even written in legislative language yet, essentially cover two concepts.  First, cost containment through a number of obvious proposals such as reduction of infections, better health education, incentives for better performance by health care providers - all of which were already proposed in last Session's universal health care bills that the Governor ignored.  Most conspicuously missing from the Governor's cost savings strategies is, of course, a single payer approach that would recapture the 20% of health care premiums that go up in smoke under the current system due to competing insurers wasting dollars on advertising, underwriting, lobbying, executive salaries, profits, (or bloated "reserves"), billing, collections, claims denials and disputes, litigation with policy holders, etc.

A cynic might suspect the Governor left the insurance companies alone because they are just too politically powerful to confront.  Call me a cynic.  Better, it appears, to beat up on primary care physicians who are already scraping by on ever smaller reimbursements.  As explained by the Governor, part of his cost savings strategy is to shift primary care responsibilities to nurse practitioners who would be paid even less.

Part two of his plan provides for an expansion of adult basic, subsidized by small business employers kicking in part of the premium.  His plan also contemplates broadening the basic coverage to include a prescription drug and substance abuse benefit - but it would still be, well, basic.  It would also not extend to a spouse, unmarried or same sex partner, nor to children although they could all separately sign up for adult basic or the newly expanded CHIP program - for a premium of course.  And, as noted above, the plan is to phase in a requirement that all of us buy whatever private insurance product the insurance industry decides to sell.  The insurance industry's dream come true - Massachusetts style.

There is more, but these are the, um, highlights as this writer has had time to digest them in the past 11 hours.

On a positive note, at least all of the politicians who were taking a wait and see position have seen, and now they can compare, the Governors plan to put out just part of the fire vs. the soon to be reintroduced universal "single payer and more" legislation that was introduced last year with the support of 10% of the General Assembly.

Taking a page from Karl Rove's play book, the bill is being renamed the "Family and Business Health Care Security Act of 2007", (who could be against that?) although it is identical to the original "Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act" that the Harrisburg Patriot News called a "Bold Option" in its October 2005 editorial when the plan was first rolled out by its citizen drafters of the Pennsylvania HelathCare Solutions Coalition.

We have come a long way since then.  Health reform leaders from across the Commonwealth are now organizing into one powerful voice through the Health Leadership Committee and its steering and fund raising affiliate, the Health Education & Legislative Progress (HELP) Fund of Pennsylvania, Inc.  With the additional endorsement of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and many others the proposal that started as a blank sheet of paper in the Spring of 2005 is on its way to being the platform for hearings and serious debate on health reform worthy of the name.

Soon a new web site will go active for the Health Leadership Committee and HELP Fund and the mission of the Pennsylvania Health Solutions Coalition will have been fulfilled.  To those of you who might not believe a grass roots effort can work we are, and continue to be, exhibit A proving that everyday citizens can make a huge difference.

Your continued support for a Pennsylvania solution is appreciated but please also keep the heat on your representatives to Congress to support a national universal health care measure.

More to come ...

Steven B. Larchuk, Esq. - Sewickley, Pa. - Co-Chair HELP Fund and Chair of the Pennsylvania Health Solutions Coalition www.pahcsc.org*

* Also visit www.just-healthcare.net

Understanding the Pa. Plan

When the history of health care reform in Pennsylvania is written it will be noted that when the Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Plan was introduced in the 2005-2006, Session of the General Assembly it achieved over 20 co-sponsors.  A pretty fair beginning and an encouraging sign for January 2007 when the Bill will be reintroduced with a goal of passage by Thanksgiving 2007 and implementation by January 2009.

As this cause proceeds it is critical that the advocates for the Pa. Plan have a complete grasp on what it does and does not include.  Essentially it embraces seven goals:

• Quality health, dental, mental health, and long term care for every Pennsylvania resident and eligible visitor;
• Economic and administrative efficiency through a single payer system;
• A consumer choice between retaining the existing fault based right to sue for malpractice, or a no-fault system that assures reasonable and prompt compensation for any Pennsylvanian injured by their care.  As part of this reform health care providers will see their malpractice insurance premiums drop to zero;
• Renewed support and funding for health and wellness education programs;
• Tax rebates of $1,000 per year for active volunteer firefighters and emergency rescue workers;
• Adoption of error and infection reduction programs which aggressively identify those hospitals and physicians who need further training or oversight and which rewards excellent performance with higher compensation;
• A fair, dedicated, and reliable source of funding which takes the politics out of the equation and assures that funds raised are only used for health care services and are not diverted elsewhere.

There is no substitute for reading the full text which is available at www.pahcsc.org

Should you have any questions please feel free to send them to me at larchuk@pahcsc.org

All the best for a Happy Thanksgiving 2006, and a Health Care Thanksgiving in 2007!

Steven B. Larchuk - Co-Chair, Pa. Health Education and Legislative Progress Fund, Inc.

What A Great Meeting in Harrisburg and Rep. Conyer's Support!

Health Care for All and Health Care Reform is a little closer today.

Friday, November 10, 2006, all corners of the Commonwealth were represented at the Pennsylvania Health Leadership Committee Action Meeting #1, in Harrisburg.  The purpose of the meeting was to find a way to coordinate the health reform activities of the groups from all over the State in anticipation of the reintroduction of the Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act in January 2007.

While the official details will soon be published, and a new web site created, the result of the meeting was the creation of the Pa. Health Education & Legislative Progress Fund, Inc. ("Pa. HELP Fund"), a not-for-profit corporation which will operate as a coordinating or steering committee and fund raiser - with open monthly meetings of health advocacy group leaders from across the Commonwealth.  Action Meeting #2, will be Friday, December 8, 2006, in West Chester near Philadelphia.  Everyone who attended yesterday's meeting is invited as are those who could not make the first Action Meeting and who want to be part of this coordinated action.

All of which means, for the first time, health care reform advocates from across the Commonwealth will share information, contacts, research, strategy, and resources to press the General Assembly for comprehensive health care reform by Thanksgiving 2007.

Also, Chuck Pennacchio, reported on his telephone conversation with Joel Segal, principal aide to Congressman Conyers on health care, who expressed his enthusiastic support for the Pennsylvania effort to secure state by state reform.  The Pa. Health Leadership Committee, and Pa. HELP Fund, therefore have the Congressman's blessing and encouragement.

---- Steve Larchuk - Co-Chair Pa. HELP Fund, Inc.

2007 - Our Window for Change

While watching the election returns I kept expecting Howard Dean to reprise his famous scream - the one that followed his dismal showing in the Iowa caucuses in 2004, and which helped reinforce the stereotype of progressives as nut cases out of touch with reality.  He resisted the scream, at least on camera, and there is the lesson for the rest of us.

Before the next election cycle really gets going we have a wonderful, albeit too brief, opportunity to take the lead to define health care reform as THE issue for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  Although it appears the Republicans will retain their control of both chambers, if we can pull over just a hand full of health crisis sensitive Republicans we can pass the Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act and, as Senator Elect Casey suggested, have Pennsylvania again point the way to the future.

Or, we can blow it through our own version of the Dean Scream - something that sounds like the petty disagreements of progressive organizations who will only accept health care reform on their terms and will accept the status quo rather than surrender an inch on principle.

Beginning with the Pennsylvania Health Leadership Committee Action Meeting #1, with its scheduled 30 leaders from across the Commonwealth gathering this Friday, the careful, deliberate, and irresistible march to legislative victory by Thanksgiving 2007 begins.  And then, once we have it, we're on to New Hampshire, and South Carolina, and Texas and ..... AAAAHHHAAAWWWW!

-------- Steve Larchuk - Chair - Pennsylvania HealthCare Solutions Coalition

Rendell Pledges to Sign A Single Payer Bill

Great News!

On October 26, 2006, before an estimated 1000 attending an event sponsored by the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania pledged to sign a single payer bill if it reaches his desk.

Although he repeated his previously expressed doubts that such a bill would ever pass the General Assembly, now that he has pledged to sign such legislation responsibility for progress and reform will rest squarely and unequivocally on the shoulders of the newly elected General Assembly.

------Steven Larchuk - Chair - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition

The Status Quo - Everyone's Second Choice

I recently had the pleasure of sitting on a panel as a "responder" (I'm still not sure what that means) for a speech presented at Pitt Law school by Ron Pollack, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Families USA.  His topic was "The Fight for Universal Health Coverage in America".  It was a presentation familiar to all of us who are involved in this cause, the statistics, the personal tragedies, the failed attempts of multiple Presidents - facts are facts and the message is the same - only the messenger changes. 

However, Ron did offer one brilliant nugget of insight that helps to explain the past, present and, sadly, the likely future impossibility of progress in health care reform unless we change our approach.  He noted simply that every stakeholder has their favored plan, and if they do not get it, exactly the way they want it, then their second choice is the status quo.

Yield nothing, get nothing. 

That's a lesson worth learning and a mistake worth avoiding.

----  Steve Larchuk, Chair - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition

Universal Single Payer Is Officially Before The House!!!

Many thanks to Representative Bebko-Jones of Erie, Pennsylvania, the prime sponsor of House Bill 2722, the Balanced and Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act - the House version of the already pending Senate Bill 1085, introduced by Senator Ferlo in February 2006.  Co-Sponsoring the House Bill are 18 Democrats (identified below) with a confidential verbal commitment made this morning from a senior Republican to add his name to the list meaning the Bill already has sponsorship from a nifty 20% of the number needed to pass the legislation!

Representative Bebko-Jones announced the Bill at her press conference in the Capitol Media Center at 10:00 AM, on June 7, 2006, a date which coincided with demonstrations around the United States in support of Congressman John Conyers' proposed HR 676, a Federal universal single payer health care plan.

With Massachusetts and Vermont recently passing legislation that depends upon private insurers to create "affordable" health care plans (something they have been unable to do thus far), Representative Bebko-Jones challenged her fellow legislators to take the more cost efficient path of a universal coverage plan under the umbrella of a single payer Commonwealth Health Trust.

With such a powerful package of reforms ready for hearings the ball is now firmly in the court of the Republican Leadership of both Houses to schedule joint committee hearings and action on the Bills before the November vote.  A failure to act by the leadership, and a failure of the Governor to lead the way by stating publicly he will sign the Bill if passed, should serve as a litmus test of their leadership in anticipation of the election.  Unless someone has a better idea then all of our elected officials should get behind the Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act.

As promised, the heroic co-sponsors of the House Bill are: Representatives Cohen, Oliver, LaGrotta, Belfanti, Siptroth, Josephs, Cawley, Youngblood, McGeehan, George, Caltagirone, James, Parker, Hanna, Freeman, Manderino, Shaner and Roebuck.  (The soon to announce Republican co-sponsor will be announcing his support shortly.)

There is still time to pass these reforms before the end of the Session.  Please call your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support HB 2722 and SB 1085!

Steven B. Larchuk, Chairman - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition

The Massachusetts Mirage

In an America lost in the desert of an unending health care crisis it is tempting to embrace the Massachusetts Bill as an oasis of hope.  If only it were true.

Rational health care reform worthy of the name requires all of the following:

1.  A universal comprehensive health and dental program independent of who you work for;

2.  An efficient single payer system - save 20%;

3.   A no-fault program to replace our dysfunctional medical negligence systems - eliminate defensive medicine and save 10%'

4.  Support for a "culture of wellness" initiative including a K through 12 wellness curriculum to help shrink the need for, and the cost of, health care interventions;

5.   A strategy to eliminate preventable health care errors.  This includes full support for the adoption of electronic record keeping as a means to eliminate waste and reduce errors;

6.   A fair and simple funding approach whereby today's health care costs are paid with today's dollars - no more borrowing from future generations.

The Massachusetts Plan fails on all counts.  It is a mirage.  A great example of a bad example.  Fortunately other states, including Pennsylvania, have better plans in the works and with luck the Massachusetts Bill will at least inspire legislators around the country that a state by state approach is worth considering. 

Steve Larchuk - Chairman - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition - www.pahcsc.org

It's a Bill! S.B. 1085 - Pennsylvania Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act

Pennsylvania is a giant step closer to sweeping health care reforms thanks to the courage and leadership of Senator Jim Ferlo of Pittsburgh who this past week introduced Senate S.B. 1085 - the Pennsylvania Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act. 

This means we need 26 votes to pass the Bill through the Senate and move it over to the House during the Spring and Summer.  Please help by writing to your senator and asking them to co-sponsor S.B. 1085.

The Steelers have already proved the impossible is just a matter of confidence, persistence, and team work.  Pennsylvania is thus once again the center of the health care reform universe, and this time we mean to finish the job.

Steve Larchuk - Chairman - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition.

Focus Focus Focus

With almost daily media reports documenting the continuing collapse of the American Health Care system it is easy to become numb to it, especially if your individual coverage situation is at least bearable.  For legislators other issues can seem more urgent simply because they are more digestible.  In Pennsylvania December was squandered with a debate over whether or not to substitute a broader sales tax in place of real estate taxes.

Behind the scenes, and thanks to the help of a senior Philadelphia legislator and his staff, the HealthCare Solutions Coalition quietly moved its proposed "Balanced and Comprehensive HealthCare Reform Act" through the formal legislative drafting process.  It is now in "blueback" form ready to "cross the desk" and mature from grass roots proposal to bona fide bill.

Although many legislators have committed to co-sponsor the bill we are working with a few key members who are weighing the enormity of responsibility taking the lead in such an historic legislative initiative as "prime" sponsors.

Progress is being made - steadily.

Steve Larchuk, Chair - Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition