Providence Service Corporation remarks on passage of health care reform bill

The Providence Service Corporation (Nasdaq: PRSC) today commented on last night's historical congressional action.  The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the health care reform bill as well as a reconciliation bill making some modifications to the original Senate act, called the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.  The bills make a number of sweeping changes to Medicaid and insurance coverage for America's poor, a mission Providence has embraced since its inception in 1997.

Included in the bill are:

• An increase in Medicaid eligibility to 133% of the federal poverty level, estimated to bring an additional 15 million into the Medicaid system.  This enrollment increase will be paid for entirely by the federal government and will not require any additional state funds until the year 2016.
• Incentives for states to develop home and community based services.
• The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS), which mandates that states develop incentives for community and home based programs, requires outcome data, and provides preferential treatment to community health centers.
• Increased funds to community health centers.
• Establishment of the Community Health First option as an alternative to institutional care mandate in April 2011.

"We have dedicated ourselves to providing home based services to Americas' indigent and have worked tirelessly to demonstrate the value and efficacy of our programs," said Fletcher McCusker, Chairman and CEO.  "For Congress to pass legislation enhancing the funding and commitment to community based care is truly a historic moment."

Now that the Senate Health Reform Bill has passed the House, it will go to President Obama to be signed into law.  The package of fixes to the bill will go before the Senate, where debate will begin Tuesday.

SOURCE The Providence Service Corporation