Senate Republicans Unveil a Band-Aid

Plainly uncomfortable with their emerging role as the caucus that blocked affordable health insurance for 250,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians, Senate Republicans have at long last unveiled their non-solution to the problem of the uninsured.

The plan would cobble together a patchwork of community health centers and free clinics to offer primary care to more uninsured Pennsylvanians.  “Rather than open a pathway to the health system we have, their plan is to stitch together another one.  But it would be filled with gaps and none of it would be available tomorrow.   It would take time to put their new infrastructure in place,” said Tracy Lawless, Campaign Director for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute of Pennsylvania.

“If you are an uninsured Pennsylvanian, toward the end of your working years and needing access to medical care, this plan will be a big disappointment,” said John Dodds, executive director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project.  “Relatively few additional individuals will be insured as a result of the $100 million they want to spend.”

PHAN’s June 10th media release is attached