I am back in Harrisburg and on the floor of the Senate listening to debate on some bills. In addition to budget bills or bills that would have a financial impact on the budget, we also continue to work on other bills that are proceeding through the system. In fact, some bills are released by committee chairs or leadership as part of the budget negotiations. If a bill has been stalled by someone in the legislature and one of the caucuses wants it to move, it may be bargained for at this time. The biggest bill tonight is House Bill 1150, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage for the treatment of autism and colorectal cancer screening in addition to language addressing the proposed merger of two Blue Cross entities. Although I agree with the language concerning the Blues merger, I do not support mandates on the health insurance companies that operate in PA. Currently we have 37 mandates on companies and if this bill would become law, we will have 39. Each time we pass a mandate, the price of insurance goes up for everyone. The companies do not take a hit financially, they pass the costs on to their policy holders which ultimately drives the cost past the threshold of some customers and therefore increases the number of uninsured people in PA. These same people will soon complain about the number of uninsured in this state. I don’t understand their lack of common sense.

- John

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