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WHEREAS Since the early 1980's, Pennsylvania's Medicaid Managed Care Program has received national acclaim as a model healthcare delivery system; and
WHEREAS thanks to the introduction of Managed Care Organizations (MCO's) in the early 1980's, Pennsylvania's Medicaid recipients have been afforded the opportunity to receive improved healthcare benefits at a tremendous savings to the State of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS most recently, the Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare, Estelle B. Richman, acting in concert with the Rendell Administration, proposed a new Medicaid healthcare program known as ACCESS Plus, with hopes that this plan will replace the current Medicaid Managed Care program in its entirety; and
WHEREAS if implemented, ACCESS Plus could potentially disrupt the healthcare benefits of over 71,000 current Medicaid recipients, many of whom are either disabled or affected by chronic diseases; and
WHEREAS these disruptions will include the carving out of all pharmacy benefits, the elimination of Nurse Case Managers for disabled and chronically ill patients, decreased provider participation, and delayed payments to MCO's; and
WHEREAS while the administration reports that this change in coverage will equate to an approximate $68 million dollars in savings, such claims seem exaggerated when viewed in light of assured increased emergency room visits during the time of program transition and the uncertainty of pharmaceutical rebates to the State; and
WHEREAS it is virtually impossible to estimate a dollar amount that would accurately reflect the negative impact that such a change would have upon the quality of life that is presently enjoyed by thousands of Pennsylvanians.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby wish to join its voice with those members of Pennsylvania's State Senate and its House of Representatives who have expressed their disapproval of the ACCESS Plus program, as is stated in Senate Resolution 60 and House Resolution 242.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby also wish to urge the Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare and the Rendell administration to retain their current voluntary Managed Care program, as this program has a proven track record of creating healthier communities at reasonable costs.