HARRISBURG, Penn. - There's a debate in Pennsylvania over what constitutes "real" health care reform - and what doesn't.
This week, a state House Committee passed House Bill 42, which would allow Pennsylvanians to not choose a health care provider, as required by the national health care reform law. Dozens of state labor groups say if the measure becomes state law, it will prevent Pennsylvania from moving forward with key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Spokesperson Antoinette Kraus is project director for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, part of the Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenue, also known as the CLEAR Coalition.
"To pass legislation at the state level saying that Pennsylvania cannot enact federal law, it's a politically-driven way to say, 'Look, we're going to slow down implementation the best that we can.'"
While the bill plays to the issue of personal choice, according to Kraus, its impact runs much deeper.
"We're going to end up paying the cost for those that don't have health insurance and creating a system that only insures people when they get really sick, driving the cost up for all of us."
She adds the effort to pass HB 42 shows how, even with a federal law in place, the health care reform battle rages on.
"Simply because we passed health care reform at the federal level doesn't mean that our work is over. We're far from there, and we're going to keep fighting to make sure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented in a way that best benefits consumers."
Supporters of HB 42 say it protects a person's right to take part, or not, in a health care system. The coalition counters that the bill is unconstitutional and, if it stalls implementation of some elements of health care reform, it could jeopardize affordable coverage for thousands of Pennsylvanians in the years to come.
This week, a state House Committee passed House Bill 42, which would allow Pennsylvanians to not choose a health care provider, as required by the national health care reform law. Dozens of state labor groups say if the measure becomes state law, it will prevent Pennsylvania from moving forward with key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Spokesperson Antoinette Kraus is project director for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, part of the Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenue, also known as the CLEAR Coalition.
"To pass legislation at the state level saying that Pennsylvania cannot enact federal law, it's a politically-driven way to say, 'Look, we're going to slow down implementation the best that we can.'"
While the bill plays to the issue of personal choice, according to Kraus, its impact runs much deeper.
"We're going to end up paying the cost for those that don't have health insurance and creating a system that only insures people when they get really sick, driving the cost up for all of us."
She adds the effort to pass HB 42 shows how, even with a federal law in place, the health care reform battle rages on.
"Simply because we passed health care reform at the federal level doesn't mean that our work is over. We're far from there, and we're going to keep fighting to make sure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented in a way that best benefits consumers."
Supporters of HB 42 say it protects a person's right to take part, or not, in a health care system. The coalition counters that the bill is unconstitutional and, if it stalls implementation of some elements of health care reform, it could jeopardize affordable coverage for thousands of Pennsylvanians in the years to come.
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