CASE STUDIES
Legislation, Amendments
GENERAL
LOBBYING
Expedient Results
When a large financial service provider found out that a controversial piece of legislation was about to be considered late in the session, they turned to Bigley and Blikle for assistance. With little time left to stop a series of very controversial and problematic amendments, B and B immediately got to work and set up meetings with Committee members and key decision makers in the House, Senate and the Governor's Office. The client and B and B were able to share their perspectives on these amendments with the decision makers and were instrumental in ultimately causing their defeat. Legislation was ultimately passed and signed into law which was extremely beneficial to the client.
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Real Estate Act
A Bigley and Blikle Team member successfully lobbied for changes to the Real Estate Act which recognize the status of timeshare properties. Those amendments to the Real Estate Act were signed into law by the Governor.
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Green Buildings
The Bigley and Blikle Team advocated for and achieved amendment of Green Building legislation to include multiple rating systems. Prior to this legislative initiative, the legislation exclusively favored a competing system.
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Crane Operators Licensure
A Bigley and Blikle Team member advocated for and achieved passage of legislation to license crane operators in the Commonwealth. Prior to this legislative initiative, this industry was largely unregulated.
OFFENSIVE VICTORIES
The Mcare Abatement Program
The Mcare Abatement Program provided nearly $1 billion in medical liability insurance relief for Pennsylvania’s physician community from 2003 to 2007. On behalf of a major client, the Bigley and Blikle Team conceived the Mcare Abatement Program concept; successfully advocated for the enabling legislation and the tobacco taxes to support the program; and annually achieved the program’s renewal through 2007. This program is largely credited with stabilizing the physician community during the height of Pennsylvania’s medical liability crisis.
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Blues Plan Merger
For more than two years, Pennsylvania’s two major Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plans attempted a merger that would create the nation’s third largest healthcare insurer. The Bigley and Blikle Team successfully advocated before the General Assembly and state regulators to block the merger. These efforts led state’s Insurance Department to deny the merger request.
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DEFENSIVE VICTORIES
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Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule
Pennsylvania has notoriously low insurance reimbursement rates for physicians. The Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule is the one highlight. The statutorily set fee schedule provides the highest reimbursement rate most physicians receive in the Commonwealth. For the past dozen years, the insurance industry has attempted to modify this fee schedule. The Bigley and Blikle Team has annually defended the reimbursement rate. Our efforts have been so successful that legislation to modify
the fee schedule has not been re-introduced for two legislative sessions.
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Ambulatory Surgical Centers
For several legislative sessions, various legislators have advanced proposals to
restrict physician ownership of ambulatory surgical centers. The Bigley and Blikle Team’s defense of physician ownership has been so successful, that the prime
sponsor in the state Senate did not re-introduce the measure in either the last
session or current session.
Mergers, Reimbursement, Liability
HEALTHCARE
CAPITAL BUDGET
& DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS
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Capital Budget and Departmental Grants
During the more than ten years that B and B has been in existence our clients have received over $40 million in state grants. Bigley and Blikle works hard to make certain that the decision makers are aware of the quality of our projects and understand the value they will bring to the local community and client. These grants have included funds received through many state agencies, The Commonwealth Financing Authority as well as through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
Crane Operators Licensure
Bigley and Blikle advocated for and achieved passage of legislation to license crane operators in the Commonwealth. Prior to this legislative initiative, this industry was largely unregulated.
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Sales Tax on Legal Services
Traditionally a convenient source of state revenue, over the years the sales tax has been extended to various professional services. The Bigley and Blikle Team successfully preserved the legal profession as a non-taxed service.
Grants, Taxation and Licensure