Politics Causing Collateral Damage Within Health Care as Patients and Their Doctors Are Held Hostage
The following is a statement from Peter S. Lund, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, in response to recent political events surrounding Governor Rendell’s Cover All Pennsylvanians health insurance plan and an abatement program to relieve the high costs of medical liability insurance. Dr. Lund is a practicing urologist from Erie, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society anticipates further debate on Governor Rendell’s Cover All Pennsylvanians insurance plan as well as an amendment to SB 1137 that would eliminate the MCARE abatement program.
No one argues that recent reforms related to the cost of medical liability insurance have been working to maintain the number of physicians in state. This includes the MCARE abatement program that lowers the cost of liability insurance, but requires physicians to stay in the state for an additional year.
This year, great effort has been made in Pennsylvania to reform health care further so that patients don’t have to worry about their future medical care. Our hope is that we can make health insurance affordable and thus increase access to care for all. The Pennsylvania Medical Society has been extremely supportive of projects to do so, including measures to insure the uninsured.
Unfortunately, in recent weeks, some want to hold hostage funding sources to lower the cost of liability insurance and by not considering various other funding sources to provide insurance for the uninsured. Instead, with politics being played, some have decided that pitting doctors against patients is the only option that will be considered.
Unfortunately, this won’t work. And, it’s shocking to anyone with a conscience. Patients and their doctors as well as other health care professionals are a team. And, politicians should not play a game with the health of Pennsylvanians.
The proposed amendment to SB 1137 would make the fates of the MCARE program and abatement no longer stand on their own merits, but would be tied into other legislation.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society does not support this effort, and warns that by stepping backwards, our state will not move into the future. Let’s not forget that we already have a difficult time recruiting new doctors to the state and retaining those that we have. Remember, as Governor Rendell has stated, our physician supply is only holding steady. Others will tell you that it’s been flat at a time when health care demand is increasing.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society supports a continuation of the MCARE abatement program at this time because it is working to keep doctors in our state.
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The patient-doctor relationship has been the priority of the Pennsylvania Medical Society since its founding in 1848. The Medical Society listens to concerns of both patients and doctors to improve the delivery of health care services. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit its website at www.pamedsoc.org or its consumer website at www.myfamilywellness.org.
Last Updated: 7/31/2008