Health Reform Advocates Say Tom Wolf's Election Benefits Uninsured Poor
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Tom Wolf's election signals the likely end of the state's controversial alternative to Medicaid expansion. Wolf favors a full expansion, not the partial plan called "Healthy PA."
Governor Corbett resisted expanding Medicaid -- at a cost of $2.5-billion and some 8,000 jobs, according to various analyses, but eventually developed a plan to cover more of the uninsured poor by cutting benefits for all, including current recipients and paying private insurers to provide the coverage.
Tom Wolf opposed the plan and a spokesman says he intends to fully expand Medicaid, though he has no specific plan or timeline.
The Health Access Network is offering suggestions.
"We believe that enrollment should start December 1st as planned, however, we should immediately stop the benefit cuts that are scheduled to take effect January 1st," says spokeswoman Antoinette Krauss.
This is action Wolf can take on his own, without the legislature. Advocates have called on Wolf to act quickly.