July 22nd, 2008

The Patriot-News reported yesterday that although Gov. Rendell correctly reauthorized the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) until November, the council should never have been in this precarious position in the first place.

The Healthcare Council, which studies and evaluates the status of healthcare facilities across the state, should have been reauthorized the moment it’s current authorization expired on July 1st.  Instead the council was temporarily shut down due to political gamemanship on both sides of the aisle.  The Senate Republicans tied the council’s reathorization to their MCARE subsidy battle, while House Democrats had already linked PHC4’s continuation to their health insurance plan.

The Patriot News asks that the Legislature no longer unfairly use the council  as political leverage and send a clear and concise (unattached) reathorization bill to the Gov. when they return to Harrisburg this Fall.