Monthly Archive for October, 2007

“A lot of this is a common-sense approach to keeping costs down. It’s actually getting to the costs of health care and the reasons health care is so high,” John Tague, vice chairman of the board of the Consumer Health Coalition, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review of Governor Ed Rendell’s proposed Prescription for Pennsylania.

In an October 10 article about the governor’s tour to promote his health reform plan, Tague, a crusader from the disability community who supports HCHCW’s campaign to increase health care coverage for direct-care workers, said “The biggest weakness is the perception that it’s going to cost businesses a lot of money. I think, in the long run, it will save businesses money.”

The governor said his plan should lower the cost of health insurance by 20 percent to 30 percent for small businesses and by 16 percent for large businesses within five years, according to the article.

“A lot of this is a common-sense approach to keeping costs down. It’s actually getting to the costs of health care and the reasons health care is so high,” John Tague, vice chairman of the board of the Consumer Health Coalition, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review of Governor Ed Rendell’s proposed Prescription for Pennsylania.

In an October 10 article about the governor’s tour to promote his health reform plan, Tague, a crusader from the disability community who supports HCHCW’s campaign to increase health care coverage for direct-care workers, said “The biggest weakness is the perception that it’s going to cost businesses a lot of money. I think, in the long run, it will save businesses money.”

The governor said his plan should lower the cost of health insurance by 20 percent to 30 percent for small businesses and by 16 percent for large businesses within five years, according to the article.

The embattled Michigan First health insurance plan passed another hurdle on October 4 when the senate unanimously approved three bills to create the Michigan Health Ensure Affordable and Reliable Treatment (MI-HEART) exchange, which would facilitate implementation of the plan. Michigan First would ensure many of the state’s one million-plus residents without insurance.

Tracy L. Lawless, Pennsylvania State Campaign Coordinator for the PHI HCHCW campaign, addressed several hundred supporters of Governor Ed Rendell’s Cover All Pennsylvanians health reform plan – and the tens of thousands more watching on TV – at an October 2 rally for the health plan in Harrisburg.

“Our legislators need to look closely at the growing “care gap” in Pennsylvania, and think ahead,” she told the assembled crowd. “We must begin attracting new workers to the field — and retain existing workers — if we are to ensure continuity of care for Pennsylvania’s long-term care consumers. Providing health coverage to these workers is one critical way to help stabilize and grow this essential workforce, while also ensuring the quality of care for Pennsylvania consumers.”

“I was thrilled to tell the governor and several legislators that attended the rally, as well as those at home watching the event on television, about the many hardships direct-care workers face without affordable, quality coverage — and the impact it has on the thousands of Pennsylvanians that depend on direct-care services,” says Lawless.

“Now more than ever, direct care workers and their employers have so many opportunities to become advocates to improve the health care coverage for this workforce.”

Several direct-care workers visited their legislators after the rally to talk about their need for health care reform.

Full text of Lawless comments (pdf)

Pictured at top right, Lori Michael of Lori’s Angels holds sign at the Cover All Pennsylvanians rally, while Tracy Lawless addresses the rally. Governor Edward Rendell stands to left.

Pictured at left, direct-care workers, Ann Kelly and Pat Downing of Lutheran Senior Life in Zelienople, PA at State Capitol after rally and meeting with legislators.