The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) is an independent state agency. Established in 1986, it is made up of twenty-one council members, one Executive Director and forty-five staff members. PHC4's primary responsibility is to address the rapidly growing health care costs in Pennsylvania. In an effort to contain health care costs, the agency:

• Collects, analyzes and provides public data on costs and quality of health care in Pennsylvania;
• Studies health care access issues;
• Makes recommendations about proposed and/or existing health care mandates;
• Provides comparative information about health care providers; and
• Provides information TO providers, so they can make informed decisions on ways to improve cost and quality.

As purchasers of health care, Pennsylvania's employer community has a strong reliance on the information created and provided by PHC4. Especially now, when a health care crisis exists in Pennsylvania, it is vital that PHC4 continue to share information with the purchasers of insurance products.

Act 89 of 1986, the law that created PHC4, will expire on June 30, 2008. Neither Pennsylvania's employer community, nor the general public, can afford to lose PHC4. The Chamber strongly recommends that the General Assembly address the issue of PHC4's sunset date, and acts to reinstate its charter, which includes a strong provision to ensure that businesses' voice is heard in the operations of PHC4. The key to affordable, quality health care begins with good data. PHC4 has a proven track record of ensuring that this data exists. Lack of good data threatens all aspects of our health care system: cost, quality, and access.

Pennsylvania employers who commercially ensure to provide health care coverage pay a minimum of $16 billion per year. Each 1% increase represents a minimum of $160 million for employers. PHC4 is critical to ensuring that employers have the information that they need to try to control these ever increasing costs.

Related Information

• Dave Kreider elected PHC4 chairman
• (PDF) PA Chamber letter to General Assembly urging PHC4 reauthorization