November 21st, 2008

Gov. Rendell signed an executive order yesterday to extend the life of Pennsylvania Health Care Containment Council (PHC4), a health wathdog agency, through June 30th.  The order comes after an initial executive order this summer, which reauthorized the agency through November, reports the Central Penn Business Journal. 

The Senate failed to reauthorize the Council this fall, after they couldn’t come to agreement with the governor on a health insurance plan or MCARE abatement.

Sens. Pat Vance and Wayne Fontana have announced their intent to introduce legislation in the new session to extend the Council for a longer period of time. 

“Rising health care costs continue to hurt employers and employees alike – and is why the formal reauthorization of PHC4 has to be a priority,” said Fontana. “The work of PHC4 guarantees that health care purchasers and consumers have reliable and transparent information about the value of their health care. With that information, competition is increased, money and lives are saved, and consumer-directed health care continues to advance.”