From: Martin, Joe [mailto:jmartin@phc4.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:51 PM
Subject: PHC4 Reauthorized by General Assembly for 5 years - bill goes to Governor

To our Friends, Allies and Supporters:


Senate Bill 89 (Senators Vance and Fontana) passed the State Senate yesterday and is on its way to the Governor. Senate Bill 89 reauthorizes PHC4 for 5 years - until June 30, 2014. Senate Bill 89 passed the House earlier this week. Votes in both Chambers were unanimous. Governor Rendell, a strong PHC4 supporter, has indicated previously that he would sign the bill upon passage.

PHC4 is very grateful for the support of SB 89’s key legislative sponsors, Senators Vance, the prime sponsor, Fontana, the chief co-sponsor, State House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and the Governor.

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the Council. This has been a long, difficult struggle but we are bolstered by the support we have experienced from so many over the past 18 months.

I particularly want to acknowledge the staff of this organization for their dedication, diligence and loyalty during this time.

Your efforts have ensured the continued success of the Council. This is a vital accomplishment for the citizens of the Commonwealth, so that they may continue to rely on PHC4 to provide valuable information on health-care costs and quality.


Thursday, June 4, 2009
Bill Would Revive State Health Care Agency
A state agency to help regulate medical costs would get another five years of funding if a bill is signed by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. The Senate approved legislation allowing the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) to continue operations through the summer of 2014. Prime sponsor Patricia Vance (R – Cumberland) says it’s hard to tell just how much money the council will receive over a half-decade. “Well, it depends. Their budget has been cut this year, probably because they were reinstated by an executive order of the governor. It depends on how much is allocated every budget year. That’s impossible to tell at this point,” says Vance. She says the program provides a valuable service to people seeking information on health care by indexing the quality and pricing of state hospitals and medical centers. Despite their name, the PHC4 does not have any active power to contain health care costs, though. “I believe that knowledge is power, and if consumers have this information then it’s their obligation to act upon it,” says Vance.

Posted by wduqnews at 10:51 AM


Joe Martin
Director, Communications and Education
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
225 Market Street, 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
www.phc4.org

(ph) 717-232-6787

(fax) 717-232-3821

jmartin@phc4.org