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. 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.
No healthcare plan also means no renewal of PHC4
Legislators failed to renew the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
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…
Future of PHC4 still uncertain
Adding to the list of issues that many are pushing to be addressed before the end of the fall legislative session is the renewal of the healthcare watchdog organization Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
Death Rates down in PA hospitals
Pennsylvania’s hospitals saw declining death rates for 25 different procedures and conditions over the past four years.
Heart surgery death rate down in PA
According to PHC4, the mortality rate for heart-bypass surgery patients in PA declined in 2006 to its lowest level in more than a decade.
Will lawmakers be able to make enough time for healthcare issues?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is among those wondering: is the Legislature going to have enough time in its 9 days of session this fall to be able to adequately address the 3 big healthcare issues facing the state?
Rick Speese on Blues Merger & PHC4
Rick Speese, Executive Director of PA House Insurance Committee, on the Blues Merger, PHC4 from Danielle Kozich on Vimeo.