COVER PENNSYLVANIA’S UNINSURED
Physicians' voices are powerful. As a Pennsylvania physician, you are in a unique position to support state legislation that would guarantee the Mcare Abatement program AND cover over 250,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians. A bill that has the potential to improve our livelihoods and patient care is worth all our support.
The National Physicians Alliance is asking for your support today. Senate Bill 1137, already passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, is awaiting passage in the Pennsylvania Senate. This bill will:
- Guarantee the Mcare abatement program for the next ten years, relieving doctors of $1.3 billion in Mcare malpractice costs.
- End the state-run Mcare program in ten years and pay for the $2 billion malpractice insurance "tail" with tax dollars. Physicians will then be able to purchase all of the required malpractice coverage from the private market.
- Cover over 250,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians.
Click here to sign the National Physicians Alliance Letter of Support for SB 1137.
Since 2002, physicians in Pennsylvania have purchased half of the required malpractice insurance from the state's Mcare program and the other half from private insurers. Most physicians receive an abatement of half or all of the costs of Mcare. However, the abatement program expired in December and bills for Mcare came due at the end of March. While we wait for our abatements, about 750,000 adults in Pennsylvania, most of whom work full time, are waiting for affordable, quality health insurance to allow them to seek care with us.
SB 1137 enacts a new program of subsidized insurance for the uninsured, Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care (PA ABC). PA ABC provides a solid insurance program including prescription drugs, preventive and wellness care, chronic disease management, and some behavioral health care.
Funding for PA ABC will not require an increase in income, business or sales taxes.
One source of funds will be part of the surplus in the Physician Retention Fund generated by tobacco taxes, from which Mcare abatements are paid. The surplus exists because malpractice claims and settlements have been declining. That will leave sufficient funds to provide many benefits for doctors and hospitals:
- Extension of the Mcare abatement program for ten years.
- Full abatement of Mcare premiums to physicians who have only received partial abatements previously.
- A phase out of the Mcare program during the ten-year period- and it provides a solution for the unfunded liability of the program that does not place the burden on doctors nor hospitals.
- Reduction in the amount of uncompensated care provided by physicians and hospitals today.
Click here to sign the National Physicians Alliance Letter of Support for SB 1137.
The program also requires all physicians who accept Mcare abatements to provide medical care to patients insured through PA ABC and SCHIP. Given that tax revenues fund abatements, this seems like an equitable arrangement. In response to concerns about the adequacy of current reimbursement rates, the Administration plans to reimburse physicians under both programs at rates significantly above those in the Medical Assistance program.
SB 1137 increases access to affordable health insurance while simultaneously bringing a permanent, and favorable, resolution to the Mcare abatement issue.
What can you do to help? Click here to sign the National Physicians Alliance Letter of Support for SB 1137. Want to do more? Forward this letter to your physician colleagues and ask them to sign it. Contact your Senator personally to express your support. To find your Senator, click here. The time for action is now!
Read what the Philadelphia Inquirer had to say on April 5th.
Read an opinion piece written by NPA Board Member and Philadelphia physician, Valerie Arkoosh, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 16th.
Click here for more information on PA ABC and Mcare.