Harrisburg, Pa: In response to Governor Wolf’s nomination of Teresa Miller as head of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania president Matt Yarnell released the following statement:
“Teresa Miller’s commitment to the people of Pennsylvania makes her an extraordinary choice to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services. Through her work as Insurance Commissioner, she has proven to be a champion for consumers and healthcare workers alike by increasing outreach efforts and transparency, which resulted in better protections for working people and more efficiency in operations. Her educational programs have provided invaluable information to the public, helping everyday people navigate the often-complicated insurance industry, saving money for consumers, and increasing access to better care for mental illness and opioid addiction.
Prior to coming to our state, Ms. Miller was a staunch advocate for the Affordable Care Act, working at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make sure everyone has access to affordable, quality healthcare. Her belief that healthcare is a human right combined with an understanding that healthcare workers’ voices are vital to tackling the challenges we face, make her the ideal leader of this new department.
We applaud Governor Wolf’s nomination of such a strong woman leader in Harrisburg and look forward to working with Ms. Miller to improve the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.”