Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell Extends Health Care Cost Containment Council Set To Expire Nov. 30

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Public Health;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on Wednesday announced that he has extended through June 30, 2009, an executive order that allows the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council to continue operating, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Without the extension, PHC4 -- which collects records on millions of hospital visits and outpatient procedures to help rein in health care spending -- would have been shut down at the end of this month. The state Legislature will have the opportunity to renew PHC4 when it convenes in January.

Rendell said, "PHC4 has been responsible for a lot of very, very important advances in the health care delivery system," adding, "I have the power to extend their life span, and I did just that." Pennsylvania Chamber of Business Director of Government Affairs Sam Denisco said, "We are pleased that the governor has essentially given new life to the council" (Goldstein/Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/20). Rendell noted that the agency should reduce its $5.3 million budget by 4.25% -- the same amount other agencies must cut because of a state budget shortfall (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/20).

In related news, Rendell reiterated his pledge not to approve an extension of a program that provides medical malpractice insurance assistance for doctors until his health insurance proposal is approved. The state House on Wednesday, the last day of its 2008 session, rejected a measure to extend the abatement program (Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/20).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.