LUTHERANS IN PENNYSLVANIA SUPPORT

HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

(HARRISBURG) A diverse group of faith leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered today in the Capitol Rotunda to announce their support for Governor Rendell’s Health Reform plan, Prescription for Pennsylvania. The Rev. Neil P. Harrison, Executive Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa), presented the following remarks:

“It is unacceptable that an estimated 767,000 adult Pennsylvanians are uninsured. Of the uninsured adults in Pennsylvania, 71% are employed and either are not offered health insurance by their employer or cannot afford to purchase insurance themselves.

Ensuring that health care is assured, available and affordable for every person is an economic and moral challenge. This challenge is complicated in tough economic times when more vulnerable families’ health care access depends on the availability of Medicaid or SCHIP.

Health and Health Care is one of LAMPa’s top two public policy priorities. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania…Lutheran Christians stand together today with other faith communities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to say that the time for comprehensive health care reform is now.

Governor Ed Rendell is providing great leadership for the steps necessary for health care access for all. Pennsylvania’s Cover All Kids program has been a resounding success connecting thousands more children to health care as a result of strong bipartisan efforts in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

However, a sluggish economy, Congress’ unsuccessful efforts to fully reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and tough new federal SCHIP mandates all prove serious threats to Pennsylvanians’ access to health care. And, almost two million Pennsylvanians utilize Medicaid for their health and long-term care needs.

Pennsylvania has a health care crisis and without action, quality, affordable insurance as we know it will be a thing of the past. It’s time to take the next step and connect the 767,000 adult Pennsylvanians that are uninsured to health care. Let’s take this major step forward now by passing health care reform in PA early in 2008!”

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is the statewide public policy office and advocacy ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.