SB 936, sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee Senator Don White (R-Indiana) and championed in the House by Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), calls for a dramatic change to the state’s workers’ compensation law and is now pending before the House Labor & Industry Committee,
This bill will establish a pre-approved list of prescription drugs – a “drug formulary” – for every injured worker. This would allow the insurance companies to overrule doctors’ medical judgment and deny workers the medicine prescribed to them.
It’s worth noting that this bill was written, introduced, and passed the PA Senate in four days without any meaningful public input.
But that doesn’t mean that you need to stay silent. The bill still has not passed the PA House of Representatives.
Please call these instrumental State Representatives – it will only take a few minutes of your time. Follow the provided script and be polite and courteous.
REP. ROSEMARY BROWN – MONROE & PIKE COUNTIES (570) 420-8301
REP. JONATHAN FRITZ – SUSQUEHANNA & WAYNE COUNTIES (570) 253-5533
REP. JIM MARSHALL – BEAVER & BUTLER COUNTIES (724) 847-1352
REP. DAVE MILLARD – COLUMBIA COUNTY (570) 759-8734
REP. TEDD NESBIT – BUTLER & MERCER COUNTIES (724) 458-4911
REP. CHRIS QUINN – DELAWARE COUNTY (610) 325-1541
REP. TODD STEPHENS – MONTGOMERY COUNTY (215) 368-5165
REP. JEFF WHEELAND – LYCOMING COUNTY (570) 321-1270
• Hello. My name is _______, and I’m calling to let the Representative know that I’m opposed to Senate Bill 936.
• I’m concerned about how the bill would impact me – and people like me – if I get injured at work.
• By creating a drug formulary, insurance companies can overrule my doctor and deny me the medicine that my doctor prescribed.
• This bill is about putting more money in insurance companies’ pockets, not about what’s best for me if I get hurt at work.
• SB 936 requires utilization review organizations to be certified by some national accreditation agency – likely governed by insurers. This could allow insurers to “stack the deck” and guarantee the outcome of appeals in the workers’ compensation system.
• Under current law, injured workers have given up their right to sue in exchange for a system that provides timely and proper medical care. This is a HUGE hit to the workers’ comp system and the “grand bargain” as a whole.
• SB 936 would hurt me and others who get hurt at work. This bill is detrimental to hard-working constituents.
• Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your help!
Do you have any further questions from us? You can always email us at info@abesbaumann.com or call us at 412-228-4786. As always, we’re happy to help.