Political Quotes

“I believe this is the greatest health care crisis facing my State, Pennsylvania, and this country that we will see. Let me give a little Pennsylvania information. Pennsylvania hospital malpractice premiums in the last 12 months have increased an aggregate of 220 percent. One-third of the hospitals have increased over 300 percent. Forty percent of the hospitals in Pennsylvania have closed or curtailed services; number one, OB-GYN; number two, trauma, when people are the most seriously ill or traveling further and further; three, neurosurgery and other surgical specialties. Half of the hospitals in Pennsylvania cannot recruit a physician and are losing the physicians that they have. Fifty percent of teaching programs are finding out that almost all of their students are leaving Pennsylvania. Three-fourths of hospital physicians were denied coverage from an insurance company, and the only reason in Pennsylvania they have coverage is because we have a high-risk pool, at outrageous prices. Thirty-two rural hospitals in my district, the most rural part of Pennsylvania, had to form their own insurance company because no one would insure them.”