Access, cost and quality of healthcare are inter-related and are all of primary concern to business. Public policy proposals should be evaluated for the effect on all three areas as well as the preservation of a private sector based system. Most recent legislative areas of interest to the GRCCI include proposals to reduce health care costs by focusing on chronic disease prevention and management, transform health care from paper records to electronic medical records and encourage the growth of consumer-oriented options such as Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs).

Sep 3, 2010 UPMC plans prizes for physicians (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) ...physicians serving the 90,000 senior citizens enrolled in the health plan's Medicare Advantage program -- known as UPMC for Life -- is being promoted in letters sent to doctors in the past month. The program, which includes a contest to win the use of UPMC Health Plan's box at a Penguins game...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Braddock to get UPMC health care (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) The case was taken up by the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Brown had hoped the Justice Department would intervene to stop UPMC from shuttering the hospital, but it closed Jan. 31. Shields reiterated this point in his letter. "If Mr.    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Kanjorski backs repeal of tax cuts for wealthy (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Paul E. Kanjorski said Thursday he supports repealing former President George W. Bush's tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans. Mr. Kanjorski said many wealthy Americans pay a lower tax rate because their income mostly comes from investments. Kanjorski told his Plains audience the new health care...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Area medical group, W-B General in talks (The Times Leader) The hospital no longer has nonprofit status. InterMountain has more than 50 doctors of various specialties at 28 locations throughout the Wyoming Valley, Back Mountain and Mountain Top.    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Dallas S.D. may save $170K a year (The Times Leader) They are meant to instill competition in the health insurance market. Overall, Dallas has been paying about $3.3 million annually for insurance since 2006, Palfey said. The district has handled its own insurance since June 2007, when it joined Pittston Area in withdrawing from the Northeast...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Kanjorski (The Citizens' Voice) Denise Allabaugh Sep. 2, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- PLAINS TWP. -- U.S. Rep. He promoted aspects of health care reform, such as a $250 rebate which will be offered to senior citizens, with Medicare Part D, to help pay for their prescriptions when Medicare...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Judge overturns ruling on police benefits (The Tribune-Democrat) The provision stipulated that effective Jan. 1, 2011, the coverage would be for only the retiring officer, with coverage for a spouse and any dependent children eliminated. The FOP had filed the appeal. "The officers are relieved a bit about not having a benefit taken away. They gave concessions...    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 West Penn Allegheny Health System chief looks to the future (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Olivia was apparently referring to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's decision to close UPMC Braddock Hospital in January on three months' notice. Shortly afterward, both Moody's and Standard and Poor's (NYSE:MHP) downgraded the WPAHS bond rating, already at junk status. Dr. Other...    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 CEO says West Penn hospital network 'healing' (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Last month, West Penn Allegheny officials said the network had $299.5 million on hand, enough to get by for 68 days without new cash. Frankly, I don't want it," Olivia said. He said UPMC "hordes cash, invests it overseas and talks about it all the time." "We're striving to become financially...    more...  

Aug 30, 2010 New clinic provides opportunities to medical students (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Leo have spent years working at the Wright Center clinic in Jermyn under the tutelage of Linda Thomas, M.D. It was her experience there that convinced Dr. Thomas built relationships with the patients," Dr. Baroody said. "We would struggle to convince patients to schedule follow-ups, but Dr.    more...  

Aug 30, 2010 Pennsylvania coal plants face big changes under planned EPA pollution-control rules (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Pennsylvania, a coal powerhouse, stands at the vortex of the issue. Its residents have much to gain from the rule's health benefits. But its fleet of geriatric coal plants has much to lose. Moreover, this and other regulations in the chute put the industry at a crossroads. Though emissions...    more...  

Aug 29, 2010 UPMC among few in state using 'tele' technology (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Watson try using telemedicine to meet with some of the patients Dr. Starting with the use of video conferencing to do psychiatry in prisons 13 years ago, UPMC has expanded its use of telemedicine. Beightol, a Walmart clerk in Bedford, had serious issues to discuss.    more...  

Aug 27, 2010 UPMC (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) If anyone can survive in the future, it will be UPMC. DeMichiei said some independent hospitals in the region were in affiliation discussions with UPMC. Membership in UPMC Health Plan grew from 1.39 million to 1.46 million over the year. Mr.    more...  

Aug 25, 2010 Conestoga View Set To Kick Off Expansion Upgrade Will Cost $2.3 Million (Intelligencer Journal/ Lancaster New Era) ...upgrade since becoming privately owned, Conestoga View next week will embark on a $2.3 million expansion and renovation. The project will double the rehabilitation treatment area, replace its bathing area and expand its dining room. It also will install flat-screen 19-inch LCD televisions...    more...  

Aug 25, 2010 The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., Watchdog column (The Morning Call) Luke's Health Network, though it's "highly unlikely," said Francine Botek, associate vice president of finance. Arrange for in-network professionals to treat you. Don't consider only the doctor, as radiologists, anesthesiologists and others may be involved, too. Foucault isn't leaving anything...    more...  

Aug 25, 2010 The Philadelphia Inquirer PhillyInc column (The Philadelphia Inquirer) It was acquired by DataLabs, of Irvine, Calif., in November 2005. The next year, Syed and Matt Walz started NextDocs. NextDocs Corp., King of Prussia $6 million 4,342% 205. Aromatic Fusion Inc., Bensalem $4 million 1,418 257.    more...  

Aug 25, 2010 Disabled woman withdraws plea for fraud (The Times Leader) Hasker hired a former boyfriend, Thomas Turo, as her home health-care attendant in 2007. Hasker submitted Turo's application to the ARCIL, which paid Turo for providing physical services to Hasker. Hasker and Turo had an agreement in which Turo kept 20 percent of his pay, which totaled $8,489,...    more...  

Aug 22, 2010 Incumbents battle association with stimulus, Obama (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Mark Critz at the Washington County Courthouse. Mr. But like many other imperiled Democratic incumbents, he is associated with Mr. Critz], I'm voting for Obama," Mr.    more...  

Aug 21, 2010 Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act would mandate paid sick leave in Pennsylvania (The Patriot-News) Without the victim, Storm said, cases are tossed. You'd think something like that would be illegal." Nesmith said she feels fortunate her job offers her sick days. He made my point," Gergely said. "He gets to make is own choices.    more...  

Aug 21, 2010 Pennsylvania insurance chief takes job in D.C. (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Rendell already had his mind made up and knew what he wanted to do concerning the merger," Ario said Friday. "That did not happen.    more...