Health Law

MCARE Abatement Program Still A Political Football

By Todd A. Rodriguez

According to a recent article in the Patriot News, Governor Rendell has outlined the costs associated with his plan to provide health insurance for Pennsylvania's uninsured population.  The plan calls for increases in taxes on tobacco products and would tap into the MCARE fund to cover the health insurance costs.  However, according to Rendell, the plan would result in enough money to ultimately eliminate the MCARE premiums currently charged to physicians.  According to the article, Governor Rendell is seeking physician support of his plan, which, with minor modification, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has already approved.  Rendell has already said that unless Pennsylvania legislators are able to work out a deal to expand the State’s uninsured health insurance program, he will not approve extension of the MCARE abatement program.  

Full post as published by Physician Law on May 12, 2008 (boomark / email).