Rendell reauthorizes PHC4 through June
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.
Sen. Scarnatti becomes Lt. Gov., but remains Senate President Pro Tempore
This creates an interesting situation, where for the first time in PA’s history the Lt. Governor is of a different party than the Governor.
Gov. Rendell and House Majority Leader to make healthcare announcement today
Just what type of announcement will it be? We’ll have to wait and see!
State-wide Election Wrap
Republicans gain one seat in the Senate, but Democrats gain three in the House…and what this all means for healthcare policy this coming session.
Sen. Vance pushes to reauthorize health watchdog agency
Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) says she will be introducing a bill next session to reauthorize PHC4, an agency that compiles data on healthcare facilities across the state. The agency and its 35 employees will be out of work at the end of November, since the Legislature did not reauthorize it’s funding before the Senate ended session last week.
Clock runs out for health care reform this year…
With legislative action this week on PA’s dog law and energy legislation, there’s unfortunately not much for anybody to cheer about on the health care front.
With three days left, health care debate continues…
This week Gov, Rendell, Senate Democrats, and advocates for the uninsured are making a last ditch effort to get expansion of state subsidized health insurance passed through the Legislature, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Legislative Wrap-up 9/22 –> 10/3
Rendell scales back his health care plan and eliminates tobacco taxes as the source of funding, in an effort to create a compromise before session time runs out. Meanwhile, two Republican-backed initiatives to expand health insurance in PA unanimously passed the Senate last week and head to a House Committee for consideration. Time is also running out to reauthorize PHC4, as only 3 voting days remain for the Senate in this year’s session…
Rendell scales back health care proposal, adds funding for free clinics
Yesterday, Governor Ed Rendell scaled down his health care reform proposal in an effort to create a plan Republicans can agree with before the fall legislative session comes to an end next week.
Rendell nominates new Health Secretary
Governor Ed Rendell announced today that he will nominate Everette James, formerly of the Clinton Administration, to serve as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.