|
For Immediate
Release
1/1/08
Contact:
Joe Pittman
(724) 357-0151 or (724) 541-0552
Clock Strikes Twelve for MCARE Abatement
House inaction derails program to help health care providers
Midnight on December 31 not only caps off 2007, but marks the end of a
program that Pennsylvania instituted to help health care providers in high-risk
fields meet their state-mandated medical malpractice insurance requirements,
according to Senator Don White (R-41 and Chairman of the Senate Banking and
Insurance Committee).
After five years, the MCARE (Medical Care Availability and Reduction of
Error) abatement, which helps physicians in all fields from general practice to
neurosurgeons, obstetricians and nurse midwives, pay all or a portion of their
medical malpractice insurance premiums, expired December 31.
"The Senate did its best to preserve this important program. We passed
reauthorization bills twice only to see those measures derailed by both the
Administration and House Democratic leadership," Senator White said. "As we move
forward into 2008, practitioners, especially in high-risk fields, are looking at
anything but a happy new year."
While the MCARE abatement is now over, the program itself continues on.
"The state will continue collecting the 25 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes as
well as the fees tacked on to motor vehicle violations. We will continue to
build on a surplus. We just won't be providing assistance to doctors who are
facing a huge spike in their insurance costs," Senator White said. "In essence,
we are right back where we were six years ago when those costs were driving many
highly-skilled physicians out of business or out of Pennsylvania."
Senator White also made it clear that while Senate Republicans are willing to
discuss additional health care reform measures with the Rendell administration,
such discussions will not occur so long as Mcare abatement reauthorization is
used by the Governor as leverage. "We will not allow our doctors and hospitals
to be held hostage while Governor Rendell tries to burden Pennsylvania's
taxpayers with a massive new $1.5 billion entitlement program," Senator White
said.
Additional Information:
Health Care
 Print this page
E-mail
this page
Back |
