

	April 28, 2008	Rxforpa.com \| PA.gov

Governor Rendell Says Passage of PA ABC During Cover the Uninsured Week Would be Welcome News For Hundreds of Thousands
In light of rising health care costs and a growing number of uninsured, Governor Edward G. Rendell believes it is more critical than ever that the state Senate pass the Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care program that passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in March.

“Passage of the program during national 'Cover the Uninsured Week' would be welcome news for the hundreds of thousands of uninsured Pennsylvanians, including the 84,972 that are on a waiting list to receive adultBasic,” the Governor said.

“Hundreds of thousands of uninsured Pennsylvania adults wake up each morning with the very real fear that a sudden illness could lead to unnecessary personal suffering and, possibly even bankruptcy. In addition, for the businesses and individuals struggling to make ends meet while continuing to pay hefty insurance premiums, continued lack of action in adopting a program to cover the uninsured means ever-increasing health care costs.”

The vast majority of Pennsylvania’s uninsured adults are employed at full-time jobs and many are employed by small businesses. Most earn low wages and do not have access to health insurance because of the high cost of premiums for businesses and individuals. PA ABC is an essential step towards solving these problems.

National Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27^th – May 3^rdThis week, people across the country are participating in national 'Cover the Uninsured Week' to draw attention to the plight of those who are without access to health care. The Governor and members of his administration are attending a number of events throughout the state to talk about PA ABC and how the program would help the uninsured.

Monday, April 28
Statewide Radio Media Tour with Deputy Insurance Commissioner George Hoover, Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

Press Conference at Family First Health with Rep. Eugene DePasquale and State Health Secretary Dr. Calvin Johnson, Pennsylvania Department of Health
116 S. George St., York.
10 a.m.

Press Conference with Rep. Mark Longietti and Allen Kukovich, Director, Governor’s Southwest Regional Office
Minority Health Coalition at 211 Federal St., Farrell.
1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29
Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club with Ray Prushnok, Director of Policy, Pennsylvania Department of Aging at
Appalachian Brewing Company, Harrisburg.
5:30 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting: Improving Access to Quality Health Care with Greg Howe, Director of Planning and Administration, Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform
at the Hanover Community Health and Education Center.
6 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 1
Westmoreland County Food Bank Visit and Program
with Deputy Secretary Cheryl Cook, PA Department of Agriculture, 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont.
10 a.m.

Town Hall meeting at Chester City Health Department with State Health Secretary Dr. Calvin Johnson.
10 a.m.

Governor Edward G. Rendell is scheduled to visit Sacred Heart Hospital’s “Cover the Uninsured Day” in Allentown.
2 p.m.

News Conference and Outreach at Maria de los Santos Health Center in Philadelphia with Secretary of State Pedro Cortès and Deputy Insurance Commissioner George Hoover.
2 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith and Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario at 401 East Gay Street, West Chester.
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday, May 2
Governor Edward G. Rendell is scheduled to visit the Schuylkill Alliance for Health Care in Pottsville, PA.
2 p.m.

IN THE NEWS:

Press Release
Friday, April 25, 2008

Press Release
Monday, April 28, 2008

LEARN MORE:

Dying for Coverage
Families USA

Faces of the Uninsured
Rx for PA

Myths about the Uninsured
Rx for PA

National Cover the Uninsured Week

Pennsylvania Insurance Department Survey of Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania

Sick Around the World
PBS's Frontline

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