The state Senate voted Wednesday to advance a bill sponsored by Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) that would reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4).
PHC4 collects and analyzes data about the cost and quality of health care in Pennsylvania and studies issues that affect access to care. The information collected by the agency is made available to the public, and the council provides recommendations for reducing costs to consumers.
“Rising health care costs are one of the biggest concerns not only in Lancaster County but also throughout Pennsylvania,” Martin said. “This agency plays a critical role in helping lawmakers, health care providers, insurers and the general public understand the scope of the problem and identify specific issues we can address to promote a better and more efficient health care system.”
Most recently, PHC4 completed work on a financial analysis of ambulatory surgery centers, research on hospital stays for mental disorders, an issue brief on cancer hospitalizations for Pennsylvania children, and a three-year review of admissions for opioid overdoses.
PHC4 was created in 1986 and has been reenacted and amended numerous times. The most recent authorization was enacted by Executive Order by Governor Tom Corbett in 2014.
The legislation, Senate Bill 841, was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.