Two Bills being considered in the Pennsylvania House would require hospitals with their own insurance plans to contract fairly with other insurers. Erie Representative Ryan Bizzarro has signed on to co-sponsor these proposals. He says House Bills 1211 and 1213 would make sure hospitals with their own insurance plans don’t undercut competing insurers.

“This package of Bills addresses a big issue that we have in Western Pennsylvania, particularly in Erie County, where insurance companies and hospitals are denying patients access to care,” says Rep. Bizzarro.

As it stands now, Hospitals with their own insurance plans, also known as Integrated Delivery Networks or IDNs, charge themselves for healthcare delivery. This allows an IDN to charge their competitors more than they charge themselves, which is what’s currently happening with UPMC and Highmark. Representative Bizzarro says this hurts healthcare consumers, who stand to lose access to their chosen providers, ultimately losing access to care.

“By no means should any purely public charity be acting like a corporation. It’s completely unacceptable to deny patients access to care that they quite frankly need, deserve, and are entitled to,” Rep. Bizzarro says.

The Expanding Fair Access to Hospital Legislation, introduced by Representative Dan Frankel of Allegheny County, includes two Bills. House Bill 1211 would create a system for fair contracting with hospital systems that are part of Integrated Delivery networks.  

House Bill 1213 would create a system for fair contracting with provider networks employed by Integrated Delivery Networks. Both, Representative Bizzarro says, would put the interests of the consumers first.

“This legislation once again hones in on that language. It ties everything together, and it ensures that patients get the care that they need and deserve so they can live a productive and healthy life moving forward. It’s a win win for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that’s why I’m fighting to make sure this happens,” explains Rep. Bizzarro.

Both proposals were referred to the House Insurance Committee in April. Representative Bizzarro tells me he is anticipating movement on these Bills, but it likely won’t happen until the Fall.