JM…Who in the House and Senate are friends of the PHC4?
JP

JM –

I had heard of them, but I wasn’t terribly familiar with their work until I researched the group (as you suggested). I was very pleased with what I found. PHC4 appears to be a largely non-partisan advisory council whose sole purpose is to provide health care consumers in Pennsylvania with accurate cost and performance information in order for them to make the most appropriate choices. With regard to the current state of health care across the country today, all 50 states would benefit by having an outfit like this. PHC4 seems to be an illustration of what an “intelligent” health system (to borrow a phrase) should look like. I realize some look upon health care as a right, not a commodity, therefore cost should not enter into the equation. This is, at least in part, what drives the cost of health care skyward. If consumers don’t have the best information on prices and quality, they make imperfect decisions. This goes for health care just as much as anything else. Groups like PHC4 seem to be on the right track with their performance appraisals of state hospitals and other comprehensive reports on access and quality across the state. I don’t know if PHC4 does this (maybe you have an idea, JM), but I would like to see line-item listings for hospitals and other medical outfits across the state. Meaning, create an online database (easily accessible) that let’s the the public know exactly what each doctor, hospital, specialist, etc., charges for each procedure they offer. Part of keeping the cost of health care in check is cost containment. If consumers have the proper information, more often than not they’ll seek out the highest quality product for the lowest cost. When you consider that PHC4 likely saves more tax dollars than it uses, it seems like a worthy expenditure for taxpayers. I plan on contacting my state legislators today to ensure we keep it around. Thank you for the heads-up, JM.