SPOTLIGHT: Pennsylvania health reforms bogged down


Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) is an unabashed liberal with big hopes for reforming the state's healthcare system. When he was re-elected last year, he vowed to put forth a plan to cover the state's 900,000 uninsured residents. He soon realized, however, that unless he could help cut health costs, his proposed reforms would never work. He also realized that cutting costs would probably mean cutting income for healthcare industry stakeholders. Now officials are wondering whether he will be able to stitch together a compromise that will satisfy the various entrenched interests affected by health reform. Article (reg. req.)