Though he says he'll give everyone full details in January, to date Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has been a bit coy [1] when it comes to his proposal for providing universal healthcare in the state. However, a picture of Rendell's plans is beginning to emerge. In an effort to cover 1 million uninsured state residents, it appears that Rendell will develop a program based on a previous expansion he proposed for the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CHIP expansion would subsidize health insurance for low-income families, while providing insurance to other families on an income-based sliding scale. Rendell also plans to target hospital infection control as a cost-reduction mechanism, and removing some restrictions on the ability of nurse practitioners to treat patients. Rendell's recommendations arise from an ongoing research process funded by a $900,000 federal planning grant.
For more information on the Pennsylvania plan:
- read this article [2] in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Related Articles:
Universal healthcare rising in '07. Report [3]
Drug ads kill universal health chances? Report [4]
MA voters fight to put universal health on ballot. Report [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/pa-gov-proposes-universal-health-coverage/2006-12-12
[2] http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06352/747018-85.stm
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/universal-healthcare-rising-in-07/2006-12-18
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/spotlight-drug-ads-kill-universal-health-chances/2006-11-15
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/mass.-voters-fight-for-universal-health-on-ballot/2006-11-13