State Rep. Valerie Gaydos | Pennsylvania 44th Legislative District
State Rep. Valerie Gaydos | Pennsylvania 44th Legislative District
Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) and the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened a hearing today to examine affordable health care for small businesses and discuss association health plans (AHPs). The hearing aimed to explore how AHPs work, their benefits, and the regulatory framework needed to implement them effectively in Pennsylvania.
The event, titled “Health Care Options for Small Businesses,” was held at the Moon Township Municipal Building. Testifiers included Emily Greene, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania; Kurt Imhof, senior vice president of policy and public affairs at Life Sciences PA; Noah Karn, vice president of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania; Robert McCafferty, operator of North Country Brewing; Howison Schroeder, CEO and co-founder of Neuro-Innovators; and Eddie DeCaria, co-owner and pharmacist at Porter’s Prescription Pharmacy.
Small businesses face significant challenges with administrative responsibilities such as identifying health insurance plans and managing paperwork. AHPs allow these businesses to band together to purchase health insurance as a collective group, potentially achieving lower premiums and better coverage options typically available only to larger organizations.
“Too many small businesses are struggling with unsustainable health insurance prices. Association health plans increase access to health insurance and present opportunities for cost savings, both of which are critical for small businesses,” said Gaydos. “They lift the barrier to entry and allow for negotiating power, which is exactly what our hard-working businesses deserve.”
“We want more family-sustaining jobs here in Pennsylvania, so we need to find innovative policy solutions for small business access to quality health plans,” said Kail. “If small businesses cannot meet the basic needs of their employees and their employees' families, we cannot expect them to want to settle here in Pennsylvania.”
To watch the complete hearing, visit pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.
Representative Valerie Gaydos
44th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717-260-6437
rleiner@pahousegop.com
repgaydos.com
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