Monthly Archive for December, 2007

The Pennsylvania Legislature adjourned for the remainder of the year without addressing the insurance reforms and Cover All Pennsylvanians (CAP) (pdf) insurance expansion contained in Governor Ed Rendell’s proposed Prescription for Pennsylvania.The primary obstacle to passing the bill is the cost of the proposal. According to a December 16 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, the state’s Republican Party fears CAP could turn into “a permanent and expensive government entitlement program.” Governor Rendell wants to use a combination of a $400 million surplus in an account that helps physicians pay settlements in malpractice lawsuits, a 10-cent increase in the state tobacco tax, and a new sales tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco.

The governor had hoped to pass CAP by Christmas. He now hopes to pass the legislation by February 14, 2008. “This would be our Valentine’s Day gift to the people of Pennsylvania, health insurance for those who are now uninsured,” he said at a news briefing.

Meanwhile, there is a growing commitment among business groups, health care providers, and workers that something needs to be done to provide health care coverage to the growing number of Pennsylvanians without access in the new year.

Long-term care provider and consumer representatives, health care advocates and researchers, labor, and foundation staff from across the state of Michigan recently met to learn about the importance of health care among voters and what language is most effective when talking about health care reform.

Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research, presented findings from a Herndon Alliance survey on voters’ values and perspectives on health care reform at a November 19 breakfast forum in Lansing. The forum was co-hosted by Health Care for Health Care Workers and AARP Michigan. (Pictured above, left to right: Eric Schneidewind of AARP Michigan, Lake, Hollis Turnham and Tameshia Bridges of Health Care for Health Care Workers, and Steve Gools of AARP Michigan.)

Michigan voters, like those nationwide, identify health care as the third most important issue after the economy. The top concern for Michigan voters is jobs, while the top concern nationwide is Iraq.

Choosing the right words when talking about health care is important to winning support for reform efforts, Lake pointed out. The term “quality, affordable healthcare” resonates much more with voters than “universal healthcare” because it addresses the quality and cost of health care, which are a concern for both insured and uninsured voters.

Lake said small business owners are an important and untapped resource in building support for health care reform, noting that a primary concern among women small-business owners is providing health insurance for their staff. Lake’s organization also noticed this small business connection among long-term care employers in focus groups conducted for Health Care for Health Care Workers in Pennsylvania.

The link to small businesses has significant implications for Health Care for Health Care Workers. The campaign is looking for opportunities to connect with more long-term care providers in our effort to bring the voice of all stakeholders – workers, consumers, and employers – to our work.