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Pennsylvania Health
Care...
Family and
Business Healthcare Security Act...
The Family and
Business Healthcare Security Act of 2007 is a PA Senate Bill that
would promote a single-payer universal healthcare in Pennsylvania.
Currently, there are 14 Senate and House members signed on. SB 300 is
now in the hopper, having been introduced by Sen. Jim Ferlo last
week. The House bill will be introduced in early March.
Supporters of the
legislation will be at the Capitol in Harrisburg on February 27th from
10 until noon for a presentation, open to the public, before invited
House Democrats and other dignitaries. More details are on the
HELPFundPA.org website.
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story...
February
7th Quinnipiac Poll
A Quinnipiac Poll released on February 7, 2007, appears, on the surface, to suggest
widespread support for Governor Rendell’s Health Plan, but in reality
it suggests otherwise. In fact, when you match up the responses to
the questions it is clear that the Governor’s plan falls far short of
public expectations for health care reform, and that it is the single
payer solution that will best meet those expectations.
Highlights from the poll:
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In this poll Ed Rendell’s enjoys his
highest ever favorability rating at 61%. Yet only 45% approve of the
way he is handling health insurance.
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76% agree when Ed Rendell "says that the
health care system in Pennsylvania is broken."
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57%, a clear majority of Pennsylvanians,
“think it's the state's responsibility to make sure everyone has
health insurance.” The Governor’s plan does not accomplish that end.
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64% know "little" or "nothing" about
Governor's "Prescription for Pennsylvania." Only 7% know "a lot."
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67% support the Governor's plan, 19%
oppose it. These numbers are clearly borne more of ignorance and
emotion than of understanding about what the Rendell plan offers
because this same sample of Pennsylvanians admitted that they really
know little about the Rendell plan. For example, as was pointed out
above, 57% feel the state has an obligation to provide health
insurance for all, and the Rendell plan does not offer anything even
close to that.
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In fact, those sampled, even though
two-thirds of them support the Governor’s plan, and even though they
admit to knowing little about the details of that plan, seem to know
instinctively that it is an inadequate solution, because 73% say they
believe the Governor's plan does not go far enough and "more needs to
be done." Only 9% think the Governor's plan "will do enough to fix
the problem.”
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73% feel the cost range for insurance from
$10 to $280 per month based on ability to pay is fair. 20% feel it is
unfair.
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33% believe health care should be "free
for the poor." That is not the case in the Rendell plan.
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Raising the cigarette tax enjoys 71%
support. Banning smoking in public places enjoys 60% support.
Clearly those are aspects of the Governor’s plan that the public will
support.
The media and the Governor will probably
spin this poll to suggest that it shows overwhelming popular support
for the Rendell initiative. It does nothing of the sort. What it
does do is demonstrate that the people of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are ready for affordable universal
comprehensive health care. The single payer plan offers that. The
Rendell plan does not.
Bullet-point summary of
Quinnipiac findings:
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76% believe that the health care system in
Pennsylvania is broken.
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57% “think it is the state's
responsibility to make sure everyone has health insurance.”
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73% say they believe the Governor's plan
does not go far enough and "more needs to be done." Only 9% think the
Governor's plan "will do enough to fix the problem.”
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73% feel the cost range for insurance from
$10 to $280 per month based on ability to pay is fair. 20% feel it is
unfair.
-
33% believe health care should be "free
for the poor."
Link to poll...
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Massachusetts
'Universal' Health Plan Already Falling Short...
Less than a year after
Massachusetts’s controversial healthcare initiative was first
revealed, evidence is accumulating to bolster critics who said the
system is faulty by design.
Read more...
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Rendell's New Health
Care Plan...
In
a
press release dated January 17th, Gov. Rendell announced a
sweeping health-care plan that would provide all
Pennsylvania residents with access to insurance coverage.
Rendell said, "I believe our [plan] is the most comprehensive of
any of the five states that have announced plans. It's a health
plan that will benefit all Pennsylvanians, all Pennsylvania
businesses, and all people who provide health care services." The Rendell plan
would offer subsidized health insurance to uninsured
Pennsylvanians - at reduced costs for low-income individuals.
However, the new
plan would be offered not by the state but by private
insurers. Lancaster County Democrats, by resolution, support
a health care reform plan that establishes
a single-payer health insurance for all PA residents. (See
LCDC Resolution on Health Care
Reform)
Read more
from Pa. HealthCare Solutions Coalition...
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