The signing of HB1150 in Pennsylvania

At 11:30 on July 9th 2008, Pennsylvania took a big step forward for the rights of families with autism and the 8000 people who are diagnosed with colon cancer in Pennsylvania. Governor Rendell signed HB1150 into law.



Pictured above at yesterday's signing with Governor Rendell is Janet Bilger, co-chair of the Central Susquehanna Valley Colon Cancer Task Force. The task force has spent the last four years lobbying many members of the General Assembly to pass SB146 or HB972 for colorectal screening.



After the May Senate Hearing on SB146 and a conversation with Senator Don White head of the banking and insurance subcommittee, most thought colorectal screening would be pushed back to the January 2009 session. Pennsylvania has not passed an insurance mandate in over 10 years and once referred to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council where mandates go to die.



Senator Robert Tomlinson attached most of SB146 to HB1150. Tomlison was the original sponsor of SB146. The exception being the group plans with 50 members or less were excluded from the mandate. This was a concession to Senator White to protect small business.



In the end it was House Speaker O'Brien, prime sponsor of HB1150, coming together with Tomlinson with some concession by White and to White.