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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 8, 2015 02:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank Burns |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | DPW and Gift Cards |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation amending Act 21 of June 13, 1967, known as the Public Welfare Code, which will address the issue of the Department of Public Welfare issuing gift cards as an incentive to participate in regular preventive care services. As you may know, CBS 21 News, servicing the Greater Harrisburg area, recently conducted an investigative report which yielded information regarding gift cards received by Medicare recipients in Pennsylvania under the Gateway Health Plan. Currently, patients who visit the dentist for a regular checkup or those who take advantage of other preventive care services receive a $25 Walmart gift card. In 2013, Gateway Health Medicare Assured Plan introduced the Take Charge of Your Health Rewards Program in an effort to increase access to care and encourage the use of preventive services. Participants within the program were encouraged to take preventive exams; they received gift cards for their compliance. Although Gateway Health administers the program, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) funds the program. This attempt at encouraging preventative care is nothing more than the fraud, waste and abuse which were supposed to be addressed by Act 22 of 2011. My legislation creates a new subsection under Article IV, Section 443.3 of the Public Welfare Code. Specifically, the bill prohibits DPW from providing financial support for any medical assistance program that provides consumers with gift cards or any other items as an incentive to participate in regular preventive care services. While I recognize the importance of preventative care, it is equally as important to ensure that public funds are spent on the delivery of services rather than rewards. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |