Health Reform Action Alert
Friends, we are within striking distance of achieving important health system reforms in Pennsylvania. Senate Majority Leader Pileggi and representatives of Governor Rendell have been meeting over the summer in an effort to assemble a proposal that would be passed by Senate and House members during their time in Harrisburg at the end of September.
Among the items under discussion are
- Improvement of Pennsylvania’s subsidized health insurance program for adults by adding prescription drug and behavioral health coverage;
- The expansion of that program to 250,000 individuals through the addition of federal funding;
- Funding for community health clinics;
- Reform of insurance laws so that community rating would be used to set insurance premiums for small employers (50 and fewer employees); and
- The extension of COBRA protections to employees of small employers (20 and fewer employees).
Will our leaders get the job done? Or will this be another lost opportunity?
In large part, it depends on us. Will we let our elected leaders know this is important to us? We have just two weeks left to make an impact. Here is what I am asking you to do:
- Endorse the attached letter on behalf of your organization (pdf). If you send me the name of your organization and the name of the individual (executive director, president, etc.) who speaks for the organization, I will add your organization’s endorsement to the letter. Do this before noon on Monday, September 8th. I will deliver copies of the letter to Governor Rendell, Majority Leader Pileggi, and Majority Leader DeWeese on the afternoon of the 8th.
- Distribute this letter to other organizations in your network that may also want to endorse the letter.
- Send an alert to individuals in your network of members and supporters. Ask them to call their elected representatives (especially their senators) between now and September 12th in support of health system reform.
Your active support will make the difference. Thank you!
Berry Friesen
Public Affairs Manager
717.232.1270 x105
