Submitted by Laura Ness, Director, PA Government Affairs (GAO)

After years of debates and proposals, the House and Senate have put a state employee pension reform package on the governor’s desk. The legislation will not alleviate the budget deficit this year, but it will help the state in future budgets. This legislation was described as relieving a pressure valve for legislators. With this monumental task behind them, legislators are looking forward to moving on to additional issues. This is good for home health care because legislators have more of an appetite to listen to requests for additional funding now that the looming pension crisis is behind them.