Second opinion: The Senate health plan is built on optimism

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Pennsylvania's Access to Basic Care health plan is a winning hand, and what we've seen in a competing bid announced last week by Senate Republicans can't trump it.

There are some good cards in the deal. Providing continuing education credits for health-care providers who volunteer to treat uninsured people and creating an Internet program to link low-income patients with drug company assistance programs are solid, common-sense goals.

Even the centerpiece of the 17-bill package sounds like a good idea. Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Sen. Edwin B. Erickson of Delaware County, would allocate $50 million in grants to community health-care clinics that treat the working poor. The Republicans say that could mean basic care for 175,000 new patients and take pressure off hospital emergency rooms. Left unanswered is where those people would go if they need diagnostic tests, specialty care or surgery, among the most expensive of medical services. In addition, 10 percent of the funding is projected to come from tax credits for businesses that donate to the clinics, which seems optimistic.

Another part of the plan relies heavily on benevolence. It says 159,000 uninsured people could get primary or specialty care from a proposed physician volunteer program. It's unclear what would cause doctors to suddenly sign on to provide more free service.

Similarly, it's hard to see how many people would benefit from the $5 million in state tax credits the Republicans would provide for small businesses that contribute to employee Health Savings Accounts.

We prefer the Pennsylvania ABC plan, adapted by House Democrats from an earlier iteration of Gov. Ed Rendell's and already passed by the House. It would cost more, with funding from a tax increase on tobacco products, but it would give comprehensive health insurance to 217,000 adults who don't have it now. The state has a waiting list of nearly 100,000 people who want such coverage, currently offered through its adultBasic program.

The Democratic plan is built on that proven program, and it would be funded by real dollars, not goodwill. That's the health care plan to bet on.