Pennsylvania Lawmakers Expected To Introduce 'Wal-Mart' Bill Next Week

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 03 Apr 2006 - 20:00 PDT

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Pennsylvania state Reps. Kathy Manderino (D) and John Taylor (R) next week are expected to introduce a "fair-share health care bill," modeled after Maryland's law, that would require large employers to spend a certain amount of payroll on health benefits, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Under the proposal, the six for-profit companies with more than 10,000 employees in the state would be required to spend at least 9% of their state payroll on health insurance. Five not-for-profits with the same amount of employees would have to contribute at least 7%. Manderino said recent Medicaid spending reductions and a possible $1 billion state budget deficit makes Pennsylvania "unable to withstand the responsibility of providing health coverage for working Pennsylvanians who should otherwise be receiving these benefits from their large and very capable employers." Union members who support the bill "make no secret that they are targeting Wal-Mart," even though the bill does not mention the company, according to the Tribune-Review. A local newspaper recently reported that Pennsylvania last fall provided health insurance to about 7,500 full-time and part-time Wal-Mart employees -- 16% of Wal-Mart's 48,000 Pennsylvania employees. Kelly Hobbs, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart said the company has increased health care coverage by offering medical plans at varying costs. Recently, 70,000 Wal-Mart employees signed up for coverage, and 78% of them were previously uninsured, Hobbs said. The company also plans to reduce a waiting period for part-time workers to be eligible for coverage, the Tribune-Review reports (Napsha, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 3/28).

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