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717-787-2500 (the phone number from the Governor’s website)
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There have been some signs of compromise between Senate Republicans and Gov. Rendell, but a deal is far from certain. The governor has said he will not sign an Mcare relief bill that doesn't include a plan to expand health care coverage for the uninsured.

In an important step, the Pennsylvania Medical Society gathered together several key players in the same room on Sept. 16, including:

• Sen. Ted Erickson, chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
• Sen. Don White, chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
• Steve Crawford, Gov. Rendell's secretary of legislative affairs
• Rosemarie Greco, director of the Office of Health Care Reform, and Larry Clark, with the Office of Health Care Reform
• The Pennsylvania Medical Society's Board of Trustees
• Representatives from The Hospital and Healthsystem Association
• Representatives from many state specialty organizations

Two messages from the senators and Secretary Crawford were clear:

• They understand the importance of Mcare abatement extension.
• They must resolve differences on how to increase coverage for the uninsured and how to pay for it.

We need to keep pressure on our legislators before the session ends on Oct. 8. Urge them to support:

• Extension of Mcare abatement
• A plan to phase out and retire Mcare and pay off its unfunded liability
• Expanded health care coverage for the uninsured