Harrisburg, December 18, 2012 – Acknowledging the escalating problems in economically-challenged communities across the state, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats today discussed their plans to address a wide range of problems impacting aging and distressed cities.
The “Growth, Progress & Sustainability” or GPS plan focuses on developing new policies that foster cooperation while addressing and strengthening the core of distressed communities.
“The reality is instead of planning for growth and economic development, many cities are contemplating bankruptcy,” Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said. “We could no longer stand back and watch while the rich heritage of Pennsylvania erodes amid shrinking tax revenues and tax bases.”
Costa said the intention of the plan is to help transform communities and bring some much needed light to the end of the tunnel.
“Pennsylvania needs a new road map to help our cities and our towns,” said Senator John Wozniak (D-Cambria). “Communities are struggling – from Scranton to Harrisburg and Reading to Johnstown and all places in between. Today we’re presenting the GPS plan to serve as a foundation to address the issues and transform our cities and communities.”
Senate Democrats are committed to working with local leaders to further develop the GPS plan which highlights broad areas of legislative interest. The areas the Senate Democrats outlined are including:
- Economic development
- Rebuilding the local tax base
- Urban blight
- Crime/Public Safety Initiatives
- Education & workforce development
- Modernizing and streamlining local government to reduce costs
- Act 47 and Local government Unit Debt Act
According to Senate Democrats, many of the identified communities continue to face huge obstacles as each attempts to provide government services at a time when tax revenues and tax bases are shrinking. They said that they recognize no solution can be effective or lasting without addressing each of the interconnected parts outlined in the plan and understanding how they affect residents.
“Revitalizing our urban areas and strengthening surrounding communities requires we assess and understand their struggles,” said Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks). “Our focus needs to be squarely on quality of life for the families living in these areas. We owe it to them to ensure these issues are addressed and their needs met, as we move forward.”
Working with local governments, Senate Democrats acknowledged the need for vision, focus and commitment. This includes providing the tools communities need to help themselves before their circumstances become untenable, they said.
“We want public policy that is proactive, cooperative and supportive, not reactive, punitive and vindictive,” said Senator John Blake (D-Lackawanna). “We want to develop long-term, sustainable solutions that will enable these communities to rebuild and thrive.”
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Today we grieve with the families, friends and loved ones of those affected by the senseless and tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
There are no words to comfort the heart and quiet the mind when horrific events like this befall the community, much less innocent children and their teachers. May we all hold our children and our loved ones a littler closer this evening, making the most of every moment.
Please join with me in keeping all of those affected in your thoughts and prayers, in the hopes they can begin the healing process as they move beyond this the events of today.
Senate Hearing in Erie Focuses on Faltering Human Services Safety Net
Erie December 13, 2012 — Erie area human services providers today told a state Senate panel that the availability, quality and reliability of crucial services to disabled people are diminishing in the face of dwindling state financial support and questionable bureaucratic decisions in Harrisburg.
Bureaucratic decisions arbitrarily issued by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in Harrisburg have needlessly made disabled peoples lives more difficult, Wiley said. Rectifying these cuts in state support to Erie County cannot wait until next year. This needs to be addressed immediately.
The informal Senate committee roundtable discussion was held in Erie at the request of Senator-elect Sean Wiley (D-Erie).
Several panelists were critical of the Corbett Administration and DPW for shortchanging regional human services providers and implementing controversial new policies that will curtail county services that disabled and vulnerable people rely on.
Specifically, providers charged that DPWs new reimbursement rate formula will cut support for Eries regional providers by up to 17 percent. Pointing to how the departments formula now bundles Erie County wage data in with numerous rural counties across the state, Wiley noted that those who provide the very same services in other parts of Pennsylvania now receive a 13 percent higher reimbursement rate than their Erie counterparts.
The Erie lawmaker said he will work to obtain additional state financial support; require DPW to publicly disclose its new formula and data it used to determine the new rates; and press the department to include providers in talks on how the formula can be rectified.
Panelists also discussed the devastating impact of the states 10 percent budget cuts to county human service programs that serve disabled people and vulnerable children.
Bill Grove, who serves as chief executive officer for the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, said DPWs policies have been fiscally irresponsible and will have dire consequences on disabled people. He noted how the Corbett Administration has cut support to programs that help disabled people live independent lives, even though hospitalization and institutionalization is three times more costly.
In northwestern Pennsylvania, If youre poor, youre going to get poorer, Grove said. If youre sick, youre going to get sicker.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh/Monroe), who chairs the Policy Committee, said many counties have struggled to maintain human service programs such as mental health, intellectual disabilities, child welfare, behavioral health, and home assistance following the 10 percent funding cut this year. Gov. Tom Corbett originally proposed a 20 percent cut.
The discussion also touched on DPWs controversial decision to replace the states 37 financial management service vendors with one firm, Public Consulting Groups Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL), based in Massachusetts. Boscola said she was concerned with how dedicated this out-of-state firm would be to the states disabled community.
I have never received a complaint from a human services provider about one of these 37 vendors, Boscola said. At a time when we are struggling to keep jobs in Pennsylvania and help our businesses survive, why is DPW ousting in-state businesses in favor of this cookie cutter approach?
Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander was invited to take part in the discussion, but refused.
Boscola, who also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said it is imperative that this years budget discussions focus on protecting limited resources for disabled people, their families and the community.
Senators in attendance included Wiley, Boscola, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), and LeAnna Washington (D-Phila.). Others who took part in the informal roundtable discussion included:
- Shari Gross, Erie County Director of Human Services;
- Attorney Charles R. Barber, chief administrative officer, Erie County Care Management;
- John Barber, CEO, Barber National Institute;
- Bill Harriger, CFO, Erie Homes for Children & Adults;
- Bill Grove, Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania;
- Tim Finegan, executive director, Community Resources for Independence;
- Jeanne Bender, guardian for disabled individual; and
- Tanya Teglo, who has cerebral palsy.
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December 12, 2012 — Senator Costa released the following statement today regarding Governor Corbett’s decision to allow the federal government to operate Pennsylvania’s health insurance exchange mandated by the federal healthcare law:
“The decision by Governor Corbett to forgo developing a state-based health insurance exchange is a misstep. His decision means that we’ve passed on the chance to craft our health exchange uniquely to fit the needs of Pennsylvania citizens.
“Pennsylvanians will still be able to utilize the federal health-care exchange and access health insurance but we need to be forward-thinking in administering the Affordable Care Act. We must be assertive and aggressive in developing a health-care delivery system that meets everyone’s needs.
“I am hopeful that the governor will revisit and reverse this decision.”
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Members of House and Senate leadership recently met with reporters to discuss our focus and priorities for the upcoming budget discussions. We outlined our concerns on issues affecting many Pennsylvania families. Our concerns included transportation, funding for basic education and protecting the social safety net. We’ll continue these important discussions as we move through the next few months, maintaining our focus on providing for the needs of Pennsylvania families.
Senator Costa comments on Jobs
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Senator Costa comments on Transportation
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I was honored to celebrate the success of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative and Health Careers Future today as we cut the ribbon for their new QIT Center. What better way to mark the holiday season than to look toward the future with hope for an organization and people focused on changing the face of health care as we know it. Through the use of new technology, QIT will be training health care professionals in the latest, most innovate ways to care for us and our families, which will lead to better outcomes.
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Contact:
Karen Poirier
Jewish Healthcare Foundation
412-594-2586 or 412-266-0392 (mobile)
Poirier@jhf.org
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Available for Interviews:
Karen Wolk Feinstein, President & CEO, JHF
Jay Costa, PA State Senator
Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive
Other speakers upon request
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Allegheny County and Jewish Healthcare Foundation Unwrap a “Gift that Will Keep on Giving” to the Pittsburgh Region
PITTSBURGH — DECEMBER 5, 2012 —Some holiday gifts are more memorable than others. This year, Allegheny County gave funds to the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) to offer our region a present that will benefit healthcare consumers in the community: The QIT Center. JHF matched funds granted by the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund to establish the Center. It is a physical and virtual space dedicated to training the frontline healthcare workforce in Quality Improvement (QI) using Information Technology (IT) for providing safe and efficient care. Pennsylvania State Senator Jay Costa and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will be on hand to cut the ribbon at the Opening Program on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at the new facility in downtown Pittsburgh.
In an era of rapidly advancing technology, increasing complexity in medicine and escalating costs, the practical application of information technology will drive Quality Improvement. And the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act have accelerated the need for new skills in the healthcare workforce.
Karen Wolk Feinstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and of the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, said, “Care is more complex and service providers must meet new requirements for safety and quality of care. Current and future healthcare workers at all levels of the system need new skills to use IT for QI effectively to accomplish those goals. So we built the QIT Center –Where QI meets IT – to serve that need in our region.”
A variety of programs and curricula will be offered through QIT for healthcare executives, managers, administrators, service providers, front line workers, students in health professions, as well as data analysts, health informaticists, and technology professionals who are passionate about quality improvement in health care.
Besides serving Southwestern Pennsylvania, the QIT Center aims for regional, national and global reach. Experts and thought leaders from service environments, academia, research and public health communities will come together in the physical space and in virtual communities for discussion, research, and training. The opening program on December 5th highlights the QIT Center’s national and global reach by including featured guest speakers speaking remotely from Israel and Washington, DC, in addition to regional leaders, commenting on the theme, “The Impact and Influence of Information Technology on Quality Improvement.”
A flagship program of the Center, the QIT Health Innovators Fellowship, will be announced at the event. The fellowship will satisfy a widespread interest in inventing “IT Solutions” to advance healthcare quality improvement among graduate students in the health professions. An intensive, ten-week program, the fellowship will consist of five biweekly sessions beginning in February 2013. In the final session, teams will demonstrate their proposed solution to a judging panel which will award a prize to the winning team.
QIT builds on the legacy of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and the progress it has made through its operating arms, the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative and Health Careers Futures, organizations which have been at the forefront of innovation in QI. They have been recognized not only for thought leadership but also for real-world results, garnering awards from the White House and around the globe. With QIT, the missions of all three organizations converge at a time when there is an explosion of progress in healthcare quality improvement, health informatics, and a changing workforce.
The QIT Center is located on the located on the 26th floor roof garden of Centre City Tower in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It shares the space with the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, strengthening opportunities for partnership in healthcare workforce development.
About The Jewish Healthcare Foundation
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and its two operating arms, the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative and Health Careers Futures, are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and serve a national and global audience. Collectively, they focus on improving the quality, efficiency, and safety of healthcare organizations. JHF recently matched funds granted from the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund to establish the first Quality Improvement Meets Information Technology (QIT) Center for healthcare managers, service providers, students, consumers, data and technology professionals, and governing boards who are passionate about quality improvement in healthcare.
