PRINTER'S NO. 3422
No. 644 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY MANDERINO, BELFANTI, BENNINGTON, BOBACK, BOYD,
BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN,
CURRY, CUTLER, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GODSHALL,
GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARKINS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JAMES,
JOSEPHS, KENNEY, KORTZ, LENTZ, LONGIETTI, MANN, McCALL,
McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MICOZZIE, MUNDY, MUSTIO, MYERS,
NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PETRONE,
READSHAW, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH,
K. SMITH, STERN, SWANGER, THOMAS, WALKO, WATSON, J. WHITE,
WOJNAROSKI, MOYER, SHIMKUS, FREEMAN, GINGRICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND
MURT, MARCH 17, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
MARCH 17, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a study of the availability and accessibility of
3 obstetrical services in this Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, The medical assistance program ensures access to
5 comprehensive health care services for low-income individuals
6 and families or those with medical expenses exceeding available
7 income; and
8 WHEREAS, There are approximately 145,000 babies born in
9 Pennsylvania hospitals each year; and
10 WHEREAS, There is a growing trend of diminished access to
11 care for women who are pregnant, due in part to the closing of
12 33 hospital obstetrical units in the last decade and increasing
13 shortages of obstetricians, family practitioners, nurse
1 midwives, technicians, anesthesiologists and other trained
2 personnel; and
3 WHEREAS, Medical Assistance funds one of every three births
4 each year in this Commonwealth and is the most important source
5 of financing for the cost of care for premature infants;
6 therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
8 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a
9 comprehensive study to assure readily available and coordinated
10 obstetrical care of the highest quality to the citizens of this
11 Commonwealth; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the committee report on its study and include
13 in the report examination of the availability of obstetricians
14 and nurse midwives and other health care professionals needed
15 for the care of expectant mothers, the adequacy of access to the
16 full spectrum of prenatal, obstetrical, and postpartum care for
17 each region of this Commonwealth and by insurance status, the
18 adequacy of insurer or managed care provider networks for
19 obstetrical services, identification of any standards of care
20 ratios for the number of physicians and nurse midwives per
21 number of expectant mothers and births and comparison to
22 Pennsylvania data, adequacy of insurance coverage for expectant
23 mothers, comparison of the range of Pennsylvania Medical
24 Assistance payments for obstetrical care to Medical Assistance
25 payments made in other states and comparison of Pennsylvania
26 fees paid for obstetrical care by other health care insurers or
27 payors; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the committee make recommendations to the
29 General Assembly on actions that could be taken to ensure
30 adequate availability and accessibility of a full spectrum of
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1 obstetrical care to all citizens of this Commonwealth; and be it
2 further
3 RESOLVED, That the committee submit its report and
4 recommendations to the Chief Clerk of the House of
5 Representatives by October 1, 2008.
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