FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2008

PENNSYLVANIA CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION:
HEALTHCARE REFORM IS AN EXERCISE IN GOOD STEWARDSHIP

HARRISBURG (April 28, 2008) – The Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association (PCHA) is marking Cover the Uninsured Week (April 27-May 3, 2008) with a reminder: “As a society, we have an obligation to use natural and social resources for the common good on behalf of all. We are challenged to be responsible stewards and not squander resources, especially when it comes to providing health care to people in need.”

“Several reform proposals are now being considered in the state legislature,” said Sister Clare Christi Schiefer, OSF, President of PCHA.  “An important dialogue has been sparked about how we as a community will exercise good stewardship in meeting the health care needs of Pennsylvanians.  As the debate continues, we must not lose sight of the key elements for a health care system that will provide access to quality comprehensive care with reasonable cost control.  We can not compromise what is most important for the sake of merely getting something done.”

PCHA outlines a list of key health care system requirements in its Vision for Health Care Reform statement (www.pacatholic.org/pcha):

• The inherent right of people to have access to adequate health services.
• Delivery of health care that respects human dignity and the religious destiny of a person.
• Participation by all types of providers in providing access to care.
• Allocation of health care resources based upon community needs and which emphasizes primary care, health promotion and disease prevention.
• Incentives for individuals to practice good health.
• Effective measures to ensure appropriate utilization and quality of services.
• Adequate, equitable, risk-adjusted, timely and predictable payments to health care providers.
• Use of a universal claims form.
• Streamlined administration.
• Promotion of the efficient and cost-effective use of facilities, equipment, and services with less duplication and competition, and greater provider cooperation.
• Provision for support of education, training, and ethical and moral research.
• Standards by which these objectives can be measured

 PCHA is calling upon lawmakers to consider these important ideas when evaluating health care reform proposals.

From April 27 – May 3, 2008, national, state and local organizations will mark Cover the Uninsured Week with a variety of non-partisan activities and events to raise awareness about this critical problem.  To find out what is happening visit www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.”

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