October 9th, 2008

Reports the Philadelphia Inquirer:

While other states are increasing their ability to track health-care costs and quality, Pennsylvania is poised to move in the opposite direction.

Yesterday, the state Senate adjourned for the year without reauthorizing the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, an independent state agency that since 1986, with the support of businesses and unions, has helped pioneer public reporting of hospital quality and costs.

PHC4 had been operating under executive order since it was first up for renewal in July, but that order is up for expiration on Nov. 30.

Read about the negotiation attempts that failed, and PHC4’s role in healthcare, at the Inquirer.