Health Care for All Pennsylvanians

Joe Hoeffel: Providing Health Care for All Pennsylvanians
http://joehoeffel2010.com/healthcare

As Governor, Joe Hoeffel will support and work to achieve insurance coverage for every Pennsylvanian. Joe believes that it is unconscionable that over one million Pennsylvanians lack affordable health care.

Joe Hoeffel believes that viable businesses that do not provide health insurance for their employees should contribute to a fund to support extending health insurance for all Pennsylvania residents.


MEDICARE MODEL

Medicare has proven for 45 years that the government can deliver a successful and popular health insurance program that is publicly financed, publicly administered and privately delivered. Joe believes that Pennsylvania needs to consider a similar model of health care insurance and delivery. As governor he will appoint a commission to explore the feasibility of establishing a single-payer system modeled on Medicare to provide health care for all Pennsylvanians.


HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOME STAFFING

There is a nursing crisis in our hospitals and health care facilities. The Institute of Medicine has issued several reports highlighting the nearly 100,000 deaths each year from accidental medical errors and the importance of working conditions, including adequate staffing, in ensuring patient safety.

Joe Hoeffel believes that when there are more caregivers providing for patients, the quality of care improves and the number of medical errors decreases. Joe will support the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which would establish minimum nurse-to patient ratios in hospitals.

Additionally, if elected governor, Joe Hoeffel will support increasing the minimum nursing home staffing levels at nursing home facilities in our commonwealth.


LONG TERM CARE AND NURSING HOME REIMBURSEMENT

Home health care workers are an important component of a holistic health care delivery system. Successful home health care saves the government money and allows people to live longer in their homes. Joe Hoeffel supports efforts to expand and improve long term care options that ultimately empower consumers and the workers who care for them.

Joe Hoeffel agrees with organizations like SEIU that advocate for Medicaid reimbursement rates that support and incentivize increasing staffing levels, providing comprehensive caregiver training and improving wages and benefits.