Leaders solicit managed care concerns

Residents of central Pennsylvania will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about managed health care to some of their representatives Friday.

Sen. J. Doyle Corman, R-Centre, and Rep. Kerry A. Benninghoff, R-Centre, will hold a public hearing on managed health care from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 16 in the College Township Municipal Building, according to a news release from Benninghoff.

The hearing was scheduled, in part, because of concerns about the creation of the Penn State Geisinger Health System. The merger, which began July 1, has caused some concern that the system will monopolize certain services in central Pennsylvania.

"Some of the genesis of this was that people were concerned about where the Penn State Geisinger merger was going," Benninghoff said. "The concern is whether or not they will have a monopoly."

The possible creation of a monopoly leads to concerns about loss of choice, access and quality care, Benninghoff said. Concerns such as these are what the representatives hope to receive feedback on at the meeting, he added.

Also, Corman said in the news release, he would like to get reaction about his amendment to Senate Bill 100, which would allow members of managed health care plans to be reimbursed for some of the cost of a specialist who is not under the plan.