Stack Praises Passage of Health Coverage Improvement Bills

HARRISBURG, JUNE 3, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack praised today’s unanimous Senate passage of two bills that would improve health care coverage in Pennsylvania.

House Bill 1089 would authorize Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Policies. This legislation would allow employees or dependents of employees of small employers (2-19 employees) who lose health care coverage through a qualifying event to continue the group health insurance coverage at cost. The continuation of coverage includes coverage for the employees’ dependents.

This legislation ensures that people who work for small employers have access to the 65 percent premium assistance provided by the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“In an age of rising unemployment rates, we need to take further steps to make sure that individuals who are out of work and their families can still receive access to quality health care,” Stack said. “House Bill 1089 complies with the new federal stimulus plan and gives individuals health coverage while they try to get back on their feet and into the workforce again.”

House Bill 84, also known as the Preventable Serious Adverse Events Act, would prevent health care providers from knowingly seeking payment from health payors, patients or their responsible party for a preventable serious medical error or services required to correct or treat the problem that occurred under their care.

“Preventable serious adverse events, such as operating on the wrong arm or leaving a sponge in a patient, happen in health care facilities, but health payors shouldn’t have to pay for these preventable events,” Stack said. “This legislation offers financial protection for patients and payors and should lead to better, quality health care.”

House Bill 1089 now goes to the governor. House Bill 84 goes back to the House for consideration.

###