ADVOCACY IS EFFECTIVE

Skeptics believe nothing changes. Things can change.
Working along with other groups, SMC efforts have contributed to a number of legislative successes including needed reforms of Pennsylvania worker’s compensation laws, reductions in Pennsylvania capital stock taxes, estate tax repeal, and health care.

Advocacy goes directly to your bottom line.
For example, we worked for 100% deductibility of health insurance costs for the self -employed. Now many benefit from that effort. $12,000 spent on an annual health insurance premium equals $3000 in tax savings in the 2006 25% tax bracket.

SMC pushed on the following state legislation which helps you save on insurance costs.

Act 3 of 2009 – Finally, after a long battle, the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council was reauthorized through June 30, 2014. Containing health care cost growth and improving quality are the most critical components of health care reform. Twelve years of public reporting have saved 49,000 lives and $1.7 billion in hospital charges.

Act 1 of 2009 – “Non-Payment for Never Events”, or obvious errors. Insurers will no longer pay for “never events” saving an estimated $337.8 million year.

Act 2 0f 2009 – “Mini-COBRA” - SMC was instrumental in having insurers, rather than employers, pay 65% of the health insurance premium up-front, saving  money for already financially strapped small employers.

Act 52 of 2007 – The Reduction of Hospital-Acquired Infections. The drop in the number of hospital- acquired infections after the first year saved an estimated $ 372,000,000 in payments.

Act 57 of 1996 – The Workers Compensation Reform Act has led to major reductions in employer insurance rates while encouraging employers to provide safer working environments.
 
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES:

• Health Savings Account legislation signed into law - 2004
  
• Estate tax repeal (until 2010) signed into law - 2004
  
• Sweeping federal tax cut legislation signed into law – 2004
  
• Congressional repeal of OSHA ergonomics legislation - 2003
  
• Enactment of several billion dollars of targeted tax cuts for small manufacturers - 2005
  

STATE LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES:

• Favorable state tax treatment of federal Health Savings Accounts - 2005
  
• Incremental Capital Stock and Franchise Tax repeal - 1998
  
• Forced PA Blues to maintain single-person group coverage (Blues sought to terminate all in 2001)