Pennsylvania universal care plan gets wary welcome

Doctors are impressed by the thoughtfulness of the governor's proposal, but some provisions, such as scope-of-practice expansions, are raising red flags.

By Doug Trapp, AMNews staff. Feb. 26, 2007.

Washington -- Like many new prescriptions, Gov. Ed Rendell's Prescription For Pennsylvania universal health care plan has people optimistic about healing but worried about costs.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society praised Rendell for developing comprehensive health system reform that could offer health insurance to virtually all of the state's 767,000 uninsured. However, the society voiced concern about the governor's claim that "Cover All Pennsylvanians," a new state-driven health insurance proposal aimed at the uninsured, would only require $300 million in combined state and private funding.

There was also uncertainty that the plan could reduce health care spending by $7.6 billion through savings including reductions in medical errors and hospital-acquired infections, and increases in preventive care.

Pennsylvania Medical Society President Mark Piasio, MD, MBA, voiced skepticism shared by many stakeholders. "Are these overestimates?" asked Piasio, an orthopedic surgeon.

Rendell unveiled the fundamentals of his proposal during his Feb. 6 budget presentation. The plan, expected to be introduced as legislation soon, includes a health insurance purchasing mandate for higher- income residents and full-time college students, potentially more freedom for allied health professionals, and a state-subsidized, privately run health insurance plan targeted to employees of small businesses and the uninsured.

Some of the private costs -- such as electronic medical records and translation services at hospitals -- have not been estimated, despite the plan's potentially requiring them, said Amy Kelchner, spokeswoman for the governor's Office of Health Care Reform.