The Rendell administration sees this bill as a bridge, helping Pennsylvanians until national health-care reform efforts are passed and implemented.

Some Republican leaders say this is unwise.

"Common sense says to wait and see what the federal government finally lands on in their health-care policy before we enact a major expansion of one program and create a new entitlement program in Pennsylvania," Pileggi said. "I don't know that a state government facing a $3.2 billion budget-revenue shortfall should be trying to fill the gap ahead of the federal government."

Republicans in Pennsylvania are pushing their own solutions - in particular, an expansion of clinics.

Torregrossa said $15 million from the federal stimulus package had come into the state for expansion of clinics.

"Clinics will continue to be an important point of access for care until we get universal care," she said. "But we can't get federal match through clinics. We can only get federal match through coverage."

Erickson, the Senate Republican, said that despite his reservations, "it may be necessary to expand adultBasic."

Torregrossa said she feared the Senate might stall.

"There's no real deadline, and that's the problem," she said. "It could just languish for another year and a half, while the waiting list grows another 20,000 a month."

Contact staff writer Michael Vitez at 215-854-5639 or mvitez@phillynews.com.