Shapiro on Health Care

From the inbox:

State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, today spoke at a panel discussion on the need for health-care reform in Pennsylvania.

Shapiro spoke to a group of 125 business professionals and community leaders in Philadelphia, and was joined by Carole Ben-Maimon, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, and Steven Altschuler, M.D., president and CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The panel was moderated by Michael V. Seiden, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

One day after the president released his compromise health-care proposal, Shapiro discussed the growing need for stability and security for those who have health insurance, affordable solutions for those who don’t have coverage, and limiting the soaring economic costs to our country caused by our current broken system.

"The status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable for the millions of Pennsylvanians who don’t have insurance," Shapiro said. "Skyrocketing costs are crushing Pennsylvania’s families, businesses and our government. We must fix what is broken and protect what works.

"Though the need is clear, the path to health-care reform that reduces costs and increases access is still uncertain. I appreciate that the uncertainty creates some apprehension, but we must continue to move forward because the cost of doing nothing cannot be sustained," Shapiro explained.

Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and has been selected as one of 32 state legislators nationwide, named the “White House Team of State Legislators for Health Reform.” For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.