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
How to Help Pennsylvanians Prosper with Medicaid and SNAP Reform
Work requirements, strengthening eligibility verification, and prioritizing traditional enrollees will lead to better outcomes. Summary The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid programs are intended to help adults increase…
Fact Sheet
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If the ACA Works, Why Do Pennsylvanians Need to Prop It Up?
Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal. During his budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro claimed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “is working for Pennsylvanians.” So, is he right? Judging by his…
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Read More: If the ACA Works, Why Do Pennsylvanians Need to Prop It Up?Education
How Republicans should change Washington
Originally published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette With their recent victories, President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans received a new mandate to act. But what does this mandate entail? Hints…
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Lowering the Cost of Living Key To Winning Keystone State
Originally published at Newsweek What will it take for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to win Pennsylvania—arguably the most important state in the 2024 election? The answer is simple. They must…
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In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care Woes
Harrisburg, Pa., July 15, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation held a webinar last week to discuss a transformative health care proposal, the Personal Option, which would give Pennsylvanians more control over their…
Press Release
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Landmark Bipartisan Telemedicine Reform Heads to Gov. Shapiro’s Desk
Harrisburg, Pa., June 26, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 739—a bill to expand telemedicine access in the commonwealth—by a vote of 49 to 1. Previously passing…
Press Release
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Petty politics and bad regulations hinder telemedicine
Originally published at The Patriot-News Dr. Marlene Wüst-Smith practiced telemedicine before it became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, government restrictions sometimes hinder her ability to practice this…
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Here’s what good health care looks like
Originally published at The Patriot-News Imagine scheduling a same-day telehealth appointment instead of waiting weeks for an in-person appointment. Or for needed surgery, you had access to local…
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A Physician’s Misfortune Highlights What’s Wrong with Health Care
Originally published at RealClearHealth When Dr. Marion Mass got the distress call about her mother in the nursing home, she knew something was wrong. As a Pennsylvania-based pediatrician, Mass…
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Pa. House’s Passage of HB 1512 Is a Victory for Patients
Harrisburg, Pa., April 10, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 1512 by a vote of 197 to 3. The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the passage of the…
Press Release
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Health Care Myths and Facts
Summary Pennsylvanians want personalized, flexible, accessible, and cost-effective health care. Market-based reforms to make price information available, expand telemedicine, and modernize Pennsylvania’s Nursing Law can reduce health care costs and…
Fact Sheet
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Getting Insurance is Simple. Getting Care is Not
Originally published at RealClearHealth ‘Tis the season for health insurance. Open enrollment for Medicare, employer-sponsored insurance, and Pennie plans are in full swing. Plans are plentiful and highly subsidized.
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Commonwealth Foundation Report Charts Path Toward More Affordable, Accessible Health Care
Harrisburg, Pa., November 13, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released a new report outlining five ways to improve Pennsylvania’s health care system. The backgrounder, “The Personal Option for Health Care in…
Press Release
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The Personal Option for Health Care in Pennsylvania
Summary Keep and expand the health care systems that work: Protect Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices. Allow expanded Association Health Plans (AHPs) so small businesses can offer more affordable coverage.
Backgrounder
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Cutting red tape on Pa.’s nurse practitioners
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Expanding health care access has been a major political issue in recent decades — first, during the Clinton health care plan of the…
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Expanding Health Care Access: The Easy Way
Key Findings Full practice authority for nurse practitioners (NPs) would increase the amount of time NPs can see patients by about 45 minutes each week.This translates into almost one more…
Executive Summary
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Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll Findings
Summary The Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll, conducted March 24-29, is the first in a series of quarterly surveys taking the pulse of voters on the “state of the…
Memo
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Maryland’s Lesson: Nurse Practitioner Reform Will Increase Health Care Access
Originally published at RealClearHealth Sandra Nettina, a Maryland nurse practitioner (NP), walked into the family room of a 65-year-old woman with severe rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It was another…
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The Case for Nurse Practitioner Reform: Full Practice Authority in Pennsylvania
Key Points More than 580,000 Pennsylvanians live in areas with a shortage of primary care professionals relative to the population. This shortage exists throughout the state but concentrates in rural…
Backgrounder
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Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle on WFMZ November 21, 2022
Giving nurse practitioners full practice authority would help eliminate at least half of the healthcare shortage areas in Pennsylvania.
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Remove barriers to increase health care access in Western Pa.
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Nearly three years after the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, hospitals still struggle with significant labor shortages. Health care workers are…
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