Governor Rendell proposed a healthcare reform bill entitled his “Prescription for Pennsylvania.”  In this essay, I outline the key components of the Governor’s plan as well as our Medical Society’s position on each item.

Reforms are most definitely needed in healthcare as I addressed in an essay that you can find under the Hot Topics I link.  The problem is that the Governor’s plan will not result in the desired goals of increasing quality care to more Pennsylvanians, nor will it decrease cost.  Furthermore, nowhere in his proposed legislation are there any changes in the liability system or tort reform.

I commend the Governor for his efforts, though it is apparent from many observations that he is not particularly understanding nor supportive of the physician position on issues.  Moreover, as I am a former Philadelphian, I regret that despite his obvious success as a District Attorney and as Mayor, few politicians were more partisan then Fast Eddie.  Indeed, his loyalty to less than honorable people in his party left the city in the hands of one of the worst Mayors in Philadelphia history after Rendell left for the Governor’s mansion.

But that’s another story…