Health Care
Instead of a ‘Public Option’, We Need a ‘Personal Option’
Originally published at RealClearHealth Health care is a mess—and our political leaders aren’t helping. Presidential candidates only offer vague ideas to address our health care problems. From former President…
Read More: Instead of a ‘Public Option’, We Need a ‘Personal Option’Under Obamacare, Pennsylvania families have been forced to pay more for health care, and more than 800,000 Pennsylvania adults have received taxpayer-funded health coverage through a broken Medicaid system. Without Congressional action, states are unable to carry the full burden of Obamacare on their own. However, state policymakers can focus their own reform efforts on giving patients more control over health care and restoring Medicaid as a safety-net program. Access to health care should be measured, not by the number of those with insurance, but by the ability of individuals to independently secure the affordable, reliable care they deserve.
Health Care
Medicaid’s Endless Expansion
Key Points Medicaid enrollment has surged, increasing by more than one million since 2015.[1] The program now covers more than one-quarter of all Pennsylvanians.Medicaid is the largest program…
Backgrounder
Read More: Medicaid’s Endless ExpansionHealth Care
Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing process
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania is currently enduring one ofthe worst nurse shortages in the nation. A shocking one in four nursing positions went unfilled…
Media Hit
Read More: Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing processHealth Care
How Pennsylvania Is Progressing in the Race to Rebuild
The 2021 state budget includes some policy changes to spur recovery and better governance, but much more needs to occur.
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Pennsylvania Is Progressing in the Race to RebuildHealth Care
7 Signs Pa.’s Pandemic Recovery Is Falling Behind
Pennsylvania business closures continue to be among the worst in the nation. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: 7 Signs Pa.’s Pandemic Recovery Is Falling BehindHealth Care
How to Vote in PA Q&A
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. In Pennsylvania, voters are navigating how to cast their ballots during this pandemic era. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: How to Vote in PA Q&AHealth Care
Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program is a national leader in all the wrong ways. Sub-standard access to care and soaring enrollment, costs, and fraud crowd out services for people with intellectual disabilities and low-income…
Backgrounder
Read More: Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too LateHealth Care
Free-market Face Lift: How to Make Health Care More Affordable
Excessive restrictions on health care providers limits access to care. …
Commentary
Read More: Free-market Face Lift: How to Make Health Care More AffordableHealth Care
COVID-19 Could Change the Way Pennsylvania Does Business
Small business owners like Elvira, Jessa, and Andy deserve a fighting chance to keep their business dreams alive. That’s the only way to heal Pennsylvania’s economy.
Fact Sheet
Read More: COVID-19 Could Change the Way Pennsylvania Does BusinessHealth Care
Lawmakers Push to Do Better, Rebuild Our Economy
Today the Republicans in the Pa. House attempted to override the Governor’s veto of HR 836, the bill that would end Pennsylvania’s 6-month long state of emergency and the…
Commentary
Read More: Lawmakers Push to Do Better, Rebuild Our EconomyHealth Care
Preserving Medicaid: How to Stop Shortchanging Patients and Bankrupting Taxpayers
Pennsylvania is a Medicaid leader in all the wrong ways. Enrollment has skyrocketed beyond population growth, and the state ranks fourth in the share of the state budget consumed by Medicaid.
Report
Read More: Preserving Medicaid: How to Stop Shortchanging Patients and Bankrupting TaxpayersEducation
Pa. has $1 billion in CARES aid left. Where should it go?
As the pandemic slows, it’s time to step back and reevaluate Pennsylvania’s remaining needs for coronavirus relief. How can our state government ensure that the citizens and businesses who most…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pa. has $1 billion in CARES aid left. Where should it go?Health Care
Struggling Small Businesses Overwhelm Govt. Lifeline
Nearly 50,000 Pennsylvania small businesses applied for COVID relief grants from state government over the last two weeks, catching bureaucrats off guard as local businesses continue to see steep revenue…
Media
Read More: Struggling Small Businesses Overwhelm Govt. LifelineEducation
The Race to Rebuild: How Pa. Can Bounce Back After COVID-19
Pennsylvanians are facing some of the biggest challenges of their lifetimes. It is time for lawmakers to launch a race to rebuild Pennsylvania using the following policy solutions.
Report
Read More: The Race to Rebuild: How Pa. Can Bounce Back After COVID-19Education
Parents will be in a tough spot if schools don’t open. Back on Track ESAs can help.
Gov. Wolf says he is willing to “pull the plug” on school re-openings if an increase in COVID-19 cases continues. That puts working parents in an especially tough spot.
Commentary
Read More: Parents will be in a tough spot if schools don’t open. Back on Track ESAs can help.Health Care
Questions for Gov. Wolf
Gov. Wolf is proposing additional restrictions on businesses across Pennsylvania because of a rise in the number of new COVID cases. Here is a list of questions for Gov.
Commentary
Read More: Questions for Gov. WolfGovernment Accountability
5 Ways Lawmakers can Avert a COVID-19 Lawsuit Frenzy
The economy is reopening, but the threat of lawsuits from COIVD-19 exposure is just beginning.
Fact Sheet
Read More: 5 Ways Lawmakers can Avert a COVID-19 Lawsuit FrenzyHealth Care
2020: The year of challenges, can be the year of solutions
This year started rough and it isn’t slowing down. While some of these tragedies don’t have a policy solution, many do. One such example is COVID-19, telehealth, and ensuring that our…
Commentary
Read More: 2020: The year of challenges, can be the year of solutionsGovernment Accountability
CF Amicus Brief Calls out Wolf for Overstepping his Authority
Commonwealth Foundation filed an amicus curiae brief in the case of Wolf v. Scarnati et. al.—arguing that the Governor must follow the legislature’s concurrent resolution to end the declaration of…
Testimony
Read More: CF Amicus Brief Calls out Wolf for Overstepping his AuthorityGovernment Accountability
Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels
More than 13% of Pennsylvania workers were officially unemployed in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday. That’s an improvement from April’s record-setting 15.1% unemployment rate, but still the second highest rate…
Media
Read More: Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levelsEducation
Understanding Back on Track ESAs
Key Points Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling—many without access to educational resources. Families are bearing increased expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) will help…
Media
Read More: Understanding Back on Track ESAsGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology
Gov. Wolf called local officials, job creators, and workers “cowards” and “deserters” for assessing local risks and daring to think for themselves.
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology