keepingSCORE January 2012 - BIPAC

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Budget Energy Environment Health Care Infrastructure Labor Legal Tax Workforce DEFINING SUCCESS Any state legislative or regulatory policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must stem from federal legislative authority; be based on sound science; recognize that a diverse fuel source is a necessary component of Pennsylvania’s economy; rely on market driven solutions to identify technologies; and provide sufficient time to bring enabling energy technologies to market. As the state moves to finalize a state water plan, and works to consider and implement regulatory programs from the variety of basin commissions and compacts involved in managing water in the Commonwealth, it must be done in a manner that does not advantage one sector of the economy to the detriment of another. In September, the Corbett Administration announced a major reorganization of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Secretary Michael Krancer and his team evaluated the agency’s existing structure to assess its operational efficiency, improve coordination, and enhance communication to improve its ability to protect the Commonwealth’s environmental resources. The reorganization announced in September is intended to move DEP’s focus back to essential environmental protection practices and permitting functions. The reorganization at a glance consists of the following points: Office of Oil and Gas Management. This new entity is created by transforming the Bureau of Oil and Gas Management to provide better oversight of the natural gas industry. The integration of both central staff and field staff under the same management structure will enhance the uniformity of DEP’s administration of the oil and gas industries. Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields. The restructuring ensures that all site remediation activities conducted under PA’s Land Recycling Program are closely coordinated. This new Bureau will allow DEP to incorporate all aspects of site cleanup under one structure to reflect environmental cleanup programs statewide. GETTING IN THE GAME Keep up-to-date with environmental news by bookmarking DEP’s newsclips. Click here for the page. Office of Water Management. This restructured office will integrate programs operating under the same set of state and federal regulations for a uniform management structure. All of DEP’s stream restoration will be combined under a new Bureau of Conservation and Restoration to enhance communication among restoration programs. Office of Program Integration. This new office will develop and coordinate the implementation of initiatives and programs within DEP. This office will assist Field Operations by creating a consistent approach to statewide initiatives and policies. Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance. The Office of Energy and Technology Deployment is restructured and renamed the Office of Prevention and Energy Assistance. This office will continue to foster the deployment of alternate energy sources plus it will work with regional staff to reach out and help companies achieve greater pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and improved compliance efforts. Pennsylvania Business Council 116 Pine Street, Suite 201 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 717-232-8700 www.pabusinesscouncil.org
Budget Energy Environment Health Care Infrastructure Labor Legal Tax Workforce DEFINING SUCCESS Adopt basic health plans. Allow association health plans. Oppose health care mandates. Promote Health Savings Accounts. Balance access to innovative therapy with cost-effectiveness. Require fair health care provider contracting. Adopt quality measures. Expand health information technology. Utilize best practices. Enact malpractice reform. Retire the MCARE Fund. Increase physicians in underserved areas. Encourage careers in science. In November of 2011, Governor Tom Corbett announced that the Commonwealth was moving ahead with the implementation of a key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the creation of a state-run insurance exchange. An insurance exchange is an on-line method of shopping for healthcare insurance intended to make it easier for the millions of people who get coverage individually or who are covered by small businesses. One advocate who testified in favor of the state-run exchange characterized health exchanges as ―an Expedia-type of computer function where you would go to shop for health care from a large variety of providers and then purchase coverage that best fits the needs and budget of the individual consumer.‖ In addition to being a one-stop shopping spot for health insurance, the exchanges are the only place where many of the newly eligible health care consumers will be able to apply for the tax credits that are intended to make the coverage affordable. The existence of an exchange in Pennsylvania was never in doubt. The Affordable Care Act requires the creation of exchanges in all 50 states but give the states a choice of either running their own exchange or a Federally-run exchange. After receiving input from stakeholders at three separate public hearings around the state, it was clear that the preferred choice was a state-run exchange. Governor Corbett also prefers the state-run exchange over a Federally-run exchange. Under the federal health care law, states are required to have their exchanges up and operating by <strong>January</strong> 1, 2014 or else opt into the Federal exchange. The State Insurance Department is currently working on a multi-million dollar Federal grant proposal to plan how the exchange would work. The entire process of establishing a health care exchange is proceeding under the shadow of the United States Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Earlier in December, the Court agreed to hear a challenge brought by the attorneys general for 26 states, including Pennsylvania. GETTING IN THE GAME Click here to download and review an extensive (247 pages) report on health exchange planning compiled for the Commonwealth by KPMG. Pennsylvania Business Council 116 Pine Street, Suite 201 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 717-232-8700 www.pabusinesscouncil.org
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keepingSCORE January 2012 - BIPAC

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