PA Senate budget plan would weaken health system

The budget plan passed by the Pennsylvania Senate in early May would make deep cuts in Pennsylvania's public health protections. 

Senate Bill 850, passed on a party line vote on May 6, would cut nearly $20 million from amounts proposed by Governor Rendell for prevention programs operated by Department of Health.  Programs eliminated would include support for expanding access to primary care, support for preventing hospital-acquired infections, lupus prevention, arthritis ourtreach, epilepsy support services, and funding for children's hospitals in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

As compared to the Governor's plan, cancer prevention programs would be cut by 50 percent and AIDS prevention programs by 25 percent.

The Office of Health Care Reform, which has saved hundreds of millions through innovations in chronic disease management and the prevention of hospital-acquired infections, would be eliminated entirely.

Nearly $100 million would be cut from care for the elderly and disabled.  Another $7.7 million would be cut from CHIP, the health insurance program for kids.

And $121 million would be cut from the Department of Public Welfare, including $13.5 million from community behavioral health services, $12 million from trauma centers, and $5 million from obstetric and neonatal health services. 

None of these cuts would be made up with federal stimulus funds.

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project is one of several groups opposed to the cuts.  "This budget plan is a massive step backward in providing health care for those who need it most," said Laval Miller-Wilson, executive director of the Project.

Click below on Senate Bill 850 to view a spreadsheet with specific health line appropriations as approved by the Senate vote.

House appropriators will hold hearings May 21 and 22 in preparation for the House version of the budget.

Senate Bill 850