HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today said it is relieved by the Rendell administration's decision not to raid the reserves of the four Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans in Pennsylvania.
"We commend the administration and the Blues for their cooperation in funding critically needed health-care programs for employed but uninsured adults," said Maura Donley, Vice President, Membership and Communications. "The additional money now committed to the Annual Community Health Reinvestment program, which was agreed to by the parties, is a step forward in helping families that struggle to have health-care coverage."
Donley added, however, that the business community is concerned about comments contained in the governor's budget address today. The governor indicated that this increased commitment of funding will ask "employers to make modest payments toward health care of the individuals" that benefit from the new approach. The governor failed to clarify that community health-care programs are already subsidized by employers.
"In a business climate that has seen skyrocketing increases in health-care costs, proposals that ask even more from employers are unacceptable and will result in increased costs for all who struggle to maintain health-care coverage," Donley said. "The Blues had a great deal at stake in their negotiations with the administration. While they cannot bind business in Pennsylvania to any particular terms contained in their agreement, we hope that the tactics used by the administration did not include any pressure to enter into this agreement at the expense of employers in Pennsylvania."
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association and the fastest growing state chamber in the United States, with more than 9,000 members covering all 67 counties. More information is available on the Chamber's website at www.pachamber.org