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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 11, 2013 11:34 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Jay Costa |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Specialty Care Protection |
| Please join me in sponsoring legislation introduced as Senate Bill 1317 in the 2011-2012 legislation session by Senators COSTA, FONTANA, FERLO and SOLOBAY, that would require that specialty hospitals in Allegheny County be available to patients at negotiated rates regardless of insurance provider. These facilities include Magee Women’s Hospital, Hillman Cancer Center and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Nearly a decade ago, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) merged. At that time, many local stakeholders expressed concern that linking a critical care facility with one health system might end up limiting access to Children’s Hospital. Following intervention by the Attorney General’s Office, a consent decree created a process for binding arbitration is an insurer and Children’s Hospital administrators could not reach an agreement on their own. The same arguments that justified binding arbitration for that facility makes sense for the other three specialty institutions. This legislation would address all care provided at Magee, Hillman and Western Psychiatric, the physicians and other healthcare providers who would serve patients there. Additionally, the bill would cover all oncological care and services provided through the UPMC Cancer Centers network. The legislation would include binding arbitration for all coordinated services related to the treatment at the specialty care facilities. This inclusion of all related services is essential to ensure that the continuity of care is not disrupted for those patients in need of specialized care. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.. Thank you for your attention to this matter. |