KITCHEN PRAISES GOVERNOR’S ‘PRESCRIPTION FOR PENNSYLVANIA’

          PHILADELPHIA, January 19: State Sen. Shirley Kitchen today praised Gov. Ed Rendell’s “Prescription for Pennsylvania” initiative, which offers access to low cost health care to nearly 800,000 additional Pennsylvanians.

          “I’m excited about this ambitious plan, which not only makes affordable healthcare coverage more available to employers and employees, but also improves the quality of care at hospitals,” Kitchen said. “I’m glad the governor is making healthcare reform a priority, and I look forward to working on this initiative in the Senate.”

          Prescription for Pennsylvania offers substantial healthcare improvements that will reduce hospital acquired infections; reduce emergency room use for non-emergency patients while improving access to primary care health centers; and create the Cover All Pennsylvanians health insurance program, which will improve coverage for everyone.

          “This healthcare reform plan benefits those who cannot afford healthcare coverage, as well as the taxpayers,” Kitchen said. 

          Healthcare costs take a large toll on the Commonwealth. Every year, Pennsylvania businesses, consumers and taxpayers pay at least $7.6 billion for unnecessary and avoidable healthcare costs, like covering the cost of treating patients who are either uninsured or underinsured.

          “I look forward to being an integral part of restructuring health care and helping to solve this very serious problem,” Kitchen said.