People across America are concerned about health care.  They say it costs too much, it’s too hard to get, and the quality isn’t what it used to be.

Governor Rendell has identified the problem – cost – but, his plan does little to control costs.  He proposes more government, which hasn’t worked.  In Canada and Europe, it made health care more expensive and drove down both quality and accessibility.

That’s why I’m proposing “Healthy Pennsylvania” a package of bills designed to cut costs, improve quality, and strengthen accessibility by giving consumers more choices through competition in the health care marketplace.

Central to my plan are Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which are similar to IRA retirement plans.  Rather than saving for future retirement, HSAs allow people to save for future medical expenses.  Unlike government-subsidized health programs, which attract those already insured, HSAs focus on the previously uninsured.  Also, because HSAs include high-deductibles, they cost much less.

Too many of Pennsylvania’s existing government programs provide benefits without regard to need – in particular:  Medicaid, adultBasic and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Healthy PA would adjust the eligibility thresholds of these programs to 100% of the federal poverty limit for Medicaid and adultBasic and 200% of the federal poverty limit for CHIP.

Healthy PA would also allow Pennsylvanians to purchase insurance from a variety of places – including other states – to lower insurance costs.  In Pennsylvania today, consumers are forced to purchase one-size-fits-all health insurance policies.  I believe that we need to let people choose the types of coverage they want.  To accomplish this, my plan would sunset insurance mandates and requires the General Assembly to look at the costs of each before they are re-authorized.

Healthy PA would also provide tax credits to those who pay for their own health insurance.  This is especially important for small businesses because 80 percent of the uninsured population works for a small business.

Transparency in the marketplace would also help to lower costs.  That’s why Healthy PA would require health care facilities to post their charges for the 20 most common health care procedures and services.

My plan is like fingers on a hand – individually, they have little impact.  However, collectively, they form a mighty fist that would fight back at the increased costs, the decreased availability, and the diminished quality.  I hope that you will join me in moving Healthy Pennsylvania forward.  We can’t afford to wait any longer.
 

Mike Folmer represents the 48th State Senate district of Pennsylvania.

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