Regular Session 2015-2016 Senate Bill 0396 P.N. 0311

PRINTER'S NO. 311

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

396

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY VANCE, KITCHEN, BAKER, YAW, BREWSTER, FONTANA,

HUGHES, FOLMER, YUDICHAK, TEPLITZ, COSTA, GREENLEAF, SMITH,

SCHWANK, PILEGGI, BROWNE, RAFFERTY AND VULAKOVICH,

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

AN ACT

Reenacting and amending the act of July 8, 1986 (P.L.408,

No.89), entitled, as reenacted, "An act providing for the

creation of the Health Care Cost Containment Council, for its

powers and duties, for health care cost containment through

the collection and dissemination of data, for public

accountability of health care costs and for health care for

the indigent; and making an appropriation," further providing

for sunset; and making editorial changes.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The title and section 1 of the act of July 8,

1986 (P.L.408, No.89), known as the Health Care Cost Containment

Act, reenacted and amended June 10, 2009 (P.L.10, No.3), are

reenacted to read:

AN ACT

Providing for the creation of the Health Care Cost Containment

Council, for its powers and duties, for health care cost

containment through the collection and dissemination of data,

for public accountability of health care costs and for health

care for the indigent; and making an appropriation.

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care

Cost Containment Act.

Section 2. Sections 3 and 4 of the act are reenacted and

amended to read:

Section 3. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Allowance." The maximum allowed combined payment from a

payor and a patient to a provider for services rendered.

"Ambulatory service facility." A facility licensed in this

Commonwealth, not part of a hospital, which provides medical,

diagnostic or surgical treatment to patients not requiring

hospitalization, including ambulatory surgical facilities,

ambulatory imaging or diagnostic centers, birthing centers,

freestanding emergency rooms and any other facilities providing

ambulatory care which charge a separate facility charge. This

term does not include the offices of private physicians or

dentists, whether for individual or group practices.

"Charge" or "rate." The amount billed by a provider for

specific goods or services provided to a patient, prior to any

adjustment for contractual allowances.

"Committee." The Health Care Cost Containment Council Act

Review Committee.

"Council." The Health Care Cost Containment Council.

"Covered services." Any health care services or procedures

connected with episodes of illness that require either inpatient

hospital care or major ambulatory service such as surgical,

medical or major radiological procedures, including any initial

20150SB0396PN0311 - 2 -

and follow-up outpatient services associated with the episode of

illness before, during or after inpatient hospital care or major

ambulatory service. The term does not include routine outpatient

services connected with episodes of illness that do not require

hospitalization or major ambulatory service.

"Data source." A health care facility; ambulatory service

facility; physician; health maintenance organization as defined

in the act of December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364), known as the

Health Maintenance Organization Act; hospital, medical or health

service plan with a certificate of authority issued by the

Insurance Department, including, but not limited to, hospital

plan corporations as defined in 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to

hospital plan corporations) and professional health services

plan corporations as defined in 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to

professional health services plan corporations); commercial

insurer with a certificate of authority issued by the Insurance

Department providing health or accident insurance; self-insured

employer providing health or accident coverage or benefits for

employees employed in the Commonwealth; administrator of a self-

insured or partially self-insured health or accident plan

providing covered services in the Commonwealth; any health and

welfare fund that provides health or accident benefits or

insurance pertaining to covered service in the Commonwealth; the

Department of [Public Welfare] Human Services for those covered

services it purchases or provides through the medical assistance

program under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as

the Public Welfare Code, and any other payor for covered

services in the Commonwealth other than an individual.

"Health care facility." A general or special hospital,

including psychiatric hospitals, kidney disease treatment

20150SB0396PN0311 - 3 -

centers, including freestanding hemodialysis units, and

ambulatory service facilities as defined in this section, and

hospices, both profit and nonprofit, and including those

operated by an agency of State or local government.

"Health care insurer." Any person, corporation or other

entity that offers administrative, indemnity or payment services

for health care in exchange for a premium or service charge

under a program of health care benefits, including, but not

limited to, an insurance company, association or exchange

issuing health insurance policies in this Commonwealth; hospital

plan corporation as defined in 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to

hospital plan corporations); professional health services plan

corporation as defined in 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to

professional health services plan corporations); health

maintenance organization; preferred provider organization;

fraternal benefit societies; beneficial societies; and third-

party administrators; but excluding employers, labor unions or

health and welfare funds jointly or separately administered by

employers or labor unions that purchase or self-fund a program

of health care benefits for their employees or members and their

dependents.

"Health maintenance organization." An organized system which

combines the delivery and financing of health care and which

provides basic health services to voluntarily enrolled

subscribers for a fixed prepaid fee, as defined in the act of

December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364), known as the Health

Maintenance Organization Act.

"Hospital." An institution, licensed in this Commonwealth,

which is a general, mental, chronic disease or other type of

hospital, or kidney disease treatment center, whether profit or

20150SB0396PN0311 - 4 -

nonprofit, and including those operated by an agency of State or

local government.

"Indigent care." The actual costs, as determined by the

council, for the provision of appropriate health care, on an

inpatient or outpatient basis, given to individuals who cannot

pay for their care because they are above the medical assistance

eligibility levels and have no health insurance or other

financial resources which can cover their health care.

"Major ambulatory service." Surgical or medical procedures,

including diagnostic and therapeutic radiological procedures,

commonly performed in hospitals or ambulatory service

facilities, which are not of a type commonly performed or which

cannot be safely performed in physicians' offices and which

require special facilities such as operating rooms or suites or

special equipment such as fluoroscopic equipment or computed

tomographic scanners, or a postprocedure recovery room or short-

term convalescent room.

"Medical procedure incidence variations." The variation in

the incidence in the population of specific medical, surgical

and radiological procedures in any given year, expressed as a

deviation from the norm, as these terms are defined in the

classical statistical definition of "variation," "incidence,"

"deviation" and "norm."

"Medically indigent" or "indigent." The status of a person

as described in the definition of indigent care.

"Payment." The payments that providers actually accept for

their services, exclusive of charity care, rather than the

charges they bill.

"Payor." Any person or entity, including, but not limited

to, health care insurers and purchasers, that make direct

20150SB0396PN0311 - 5 -

payments to providers for covered services.

"Physician." An individual licensed under the laws of this

Commonwealth to practice medicine and surgery within the scope

of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the

Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, or the act of December 20,

1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of

1985.

"Preferred provider organization." Any arrangement between a

health care insurer and providers of health care services which

specifies rates of payment to such providers which differ from

their usual and customary charges to the general public and

which encourage enrollees to receive health services from such

providers.

"Provider." A hospital, an ambulatory service facility or a

physician.

"Provider quality." The extent to which a provider renders

care that, within the capabilities of modern medicine, obtains

for patients medically acceptable health outcomes and prognoses,

adjusted for patient severity, and treats patients

compassionately and responsively.

"Provider service effectiveness." The effectiveness of

services rendered by a provider, determined by measurement of

the medical outcome of patients grouped by severity receiving

those services.

"Purchaser." All corporations, labor organizations and other

entities that purchase benefits which provide covered services

for their employees or members, either through a health care

insurer or by means of a self-funded program of benefits, and a

certified bargaining representative that represents a group or

groups of employees for whom employers purchase a program of

20150SB0396PN0311 - 6 -

benefits which provide covered services, but excluding entities

defined in this section as "health care insurers."

"Raw data" or "data." Data collected by the council under

section 6. No data shall be released by the council except as

provided for in section 11.

"Severity." In any patient, the measureable degree of the

potential for failure of one or more vital organs.

Section 4. Health Care Cost Containment Council.

(a) Establishment.--The General Assembly hereby establishes

an independent council to be known as the Health Care Cost

Containment Council.

(b) Composition.--The council shall consist of voting

members, composed of and appointed in accordance with the

following:

(1) The Secretary of Health.

(2) The Secretary of [Public Welfare] Human Services.

(3) The Insurance Commissioner.

(4) Six representatives of the business community, at

least one of whom represents small business, who are

purchasers of health care as defined in section 3, none of

which is primarily involved in the provision of health care

or health insurance, three of which shall be appointed by the

President pro tempore of the Senate and three of which shall

be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives

from a list of twelve qualified persons recommended by the

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Three nominees

shall be representatives of small business.

(5) Six representatives of organized labor, three of

which shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the

Senate and three of which shall be appointed by the Speaker

20150SB0396PN0311 - 7 -

of the House of Representatives from a list of twelve

qualified persons recommended by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

(6) One representative of consumers who is not primarily

involved in the provision of health care or health care

insurance, appointed by the Governor from a list of three

qualified persons recommended jointly by the Speaker of the

House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the

Senate.

(7) Two representatives of hospitals, appointed by the

Governor from a list of five qualified hospital

representatives recommended by the Hospital and Health System

Association of Pennsylvania one of whom shall be a

representative of rural hospitals. Each representative under

this paragraph may appoint two additional delegates to act

for the representative only at meetings of committees, as

provided for in subsection (f).

(8) Two representatives of physicians, appointed by the

Governor from a list of five qualified physician

representatives recommended jointly by the Pennsylvania

Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical

Society. The representative under this paragraph may appoint

two additional delegates to act for the representative only

at meetings of committees, as provided for in subsection (f).

(8.1) An individual appointed by the Governor who has

expertise in the application of continuous quality

improvement methods in hospitals.

(8.2) One representative of nurses, appointed by the

Governor from a list of three qualified representatives

recommended by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association.

(9) One representative of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield

20150SB0396PN0311 - 8 -

plans in Pennsylvania, appointed by the Governor from a list

of three qualified persons recommended jointly by the Blue

Cross and Blue Shield plans of Pennsylvania.

(10) One representative of commercial insurance

carriers, appointed by the Governor from a list of three

qualified persons recommended by the Insurance Federation of

Pennsylvania, Inc.

(11) One representative of health maintenance

organizations, appointed by the Governor .

(12) In the case of each appointment to be made from a

list supplied by a specified organization, it is incumbent

upon that organization to consult with and provide a list

which reflects the input of other equivalent organizations

representing similar interests. Each appointing authority

will have the discretion to request additions to the list

originally submitted. Additional names will be provided not

later than 15 days after such request. Appointments shall be

made by the appointing authority no later than 90 days after

receipt of the original list. If, for any reason, any

specified organization supplying a list should cease to

exist, then the respective appointing authority shall specify

a new equivalent organization to fulfill the responsibilities

of this act.

annually elect, by a majority vote of the members, a chairperson

and a vice chairperson of the council from among the business

and labor representatives on the council.

(d) Quorum.--Thirteen members, at least six of whom must be

made up of representatives of business and labor, shall

constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, and the

20150SB0396PN0311 - 9 -

act by the majority of the members present at any meeting in

which there is a quorum shall be deemed to be the act of the

council.

(e) Meetings.--All meetings of the council shall be

advertised and conducted pursuant to 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating

to open meetings), unless otherwise provided in this section.

(1) The council shall meet at least once every two

months, and may provide for special meetings as it deems

necessary. Meeting dates shall be set by a majority vote of

the members of the council or by the call of the chairperson

upon seven days' notice to all council members.

(2) All meetings of the council shall be publicly

advertised, as provided for in this subsection, and shall be

open to the public, except that the council, through its

bylaws, may provide for executive sessions of the council on

subjects permitted to be discussed in such sessions under 65

Pa.C.S. Ch. 7. No act of the council shall be taken in an

executive session.

(3) The council shall publish a schedule of its meetings

in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and in at least one newspaper in

general circulation in the Commonwealth. Such notice shall be

published at least once in each calendar quarter and shall

list the schedule of meetings of the council to be held in

the subsequent calendar quarter. Such notice shall specify

the date, time and place of the meeting and shall state that

the council's meetings are open to the general public, except

that no such notice shall be required for executive sessions

of the council.

(4) All action taken by the council shall be taken in

open public session, and action of the council shall not be

20150SB0396PN0311 - 10 -

taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the

members of the council present during meetings at which a

quorum is present.

(f) Bylaws.--The council shall adopt bylaws, not

inconsistent with this act, and may appoint such committees or

elect such officers subordinate to those provided for in

subsection (c) as it deems advisable. The council shall provide

for the approval and participation of additional delegates

appointed under subsection (b)(7) and (8) so that each

organization represented by delegates under those paragraphs

shall not have more than one vote on any committee to which they

are appointed. The council shall also appoint a technical

advisory group which shall, on an ad hoc basis, respond to

issues presented to it by the council or committees of the

council and shall make recommendations to the council. The

technical advisory group shall include physicians, researchers,

biostatisticians, one representative of the Hospital and

Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and one representative

of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. The Hospital and

Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania

Medical Society representatives shall not be subject to

executive committee approval. In appointing other physicians,

researchers and biostatisticians to the technical advisory

group, the council shall consult with and take nominations from

the representatives of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania,

the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic

Medical Society or other like organizations. At its discretion

and in accordance with this section, nominations shall be

approved by the executive committee of the council. If the

subject matter of any project exceeds the expertise of the

20150SB0396PN0311 - 11 -

technical advisory group, physicians in appropriate specialties

who possess current knowledge of the issue under study may be

consulted. The technical advisory group shall also review the

availability and reliability of severity of illness measurements

as they relate to small hospitals and psychiatric,

rehabilitation and children's hospitals and shall make

recommendations to the council based upon this review. Meetings

of the technical advisory group shall be open to the general

public.

(f.1) Payment data advisory group.--

(1) In order to assure the technical appropriateness and

accuracy of payment data, the council shall establish a

payment data advisory group to produce recommendations

surrounding the collection of payment data, the analysis and

manipulation of payment data and the public reporting of

payment data. The payment data advisory group shall include

technical experts and individuals knowledgeable in payment

systems and discharge claims data. The advisory group shall

consist of the following members appointed by the council:

(i) One member representing each plan under 40

Pa.C.S. Chs. 61 (relating to hospital plan corporations)

and 63 (relating to professional health services plan

corporations).

(ii) Two members representing commercial insurance

carriers.

(iii) Three members representing health care

facilities.

(iv) Three members representing physicians.

(2) The payment data advisory group shall meet at least

four times a year and may provide for special meetings as may

20150SB0396PN0311 - 12 -

be necessary.

(3) The payment data advisory group shall review and

concur with the technical appropriateness of the use and

presentation of data and report its findings to the council

prior to any vote to publicly release reports. If the council

elects to release a report without addressing the technical

concerns of the advisory group, it shall prominently disclose

this in the public report and include the comments of the

advisory group in the public report.

(4) The payment data advisory group shall exercise all

powers necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties,

including advising the council on the following:

(i) Collection of payment data by the council.

(ii) Manipulation, adjustments and methods used with

payment data.

(iii) Public reporting of payment data by the

council.

(g) Compensation and expenses.--The members of the council

shall not receive a salary or per diem allowance for serving as

members of the council but shall be reimbursed for actual and

necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Said expenses may include reimbursement of travel and living

expenses while engaged in council business.

(h) Terms of council members.--

(1) The terms of the Secretary of Health, the Secretary

of [Public Welfare] Human Services and the Insurance

Commissioner shall be concurrent with their holding of public

office. The council members under subsection (b)(4) through

(11) shall each serve for a term of four years and shall

continue to serve thereafter until their successor is

20150SB0396PN0311 - 13 -

appointed.

(2) Vacancies on the council shall be filled in the

manner designated under subsection (b), within 60 days of the

vacancy, except that when vacancies occur among the

representatives of business or organized labor, two

nominations shall be submitted by the organization specified

in subsection (b) for each vacancy on the council. If the

officer required in subsection (b) to make appointments to

the council fails to act within 60 days of the vacancy, the

council chairperson may appoint one of the persons

recommended for the vacancy until the appointing authority

makes the appointment.

(3) A member may be removed for just cause by the

appointing authority after recommendation by a vote of at

least 14 members of the council.

(4) No appointed member under subsection (b)(4) through

(11) shall be eligible to serve more than two full

consecutive terms of four years beginning on the effective

date of this paragraph.

(j) Subsequent appointments.--Submission of lists of

recommended persons and appointments of council members for

succeeding terms shall be made in the same manner as prescribed

in subsection (b), except that:

(1) Organizations required under subsection (b) to

submit lists of recommended persons shall do so at least 60

days prior to expiration of the council members' terms.

(2) The officer required under subsection (b) to make

appointments to the council shall make said appointments at

least 30 days prior to expiration of the council members'

terms. If the appointments are not made within the specified

20150SB0396PN0311 - 14 -

time, the council chairperson may make interim appointments

from the lists of recommended individuals. An interim

appointment shall be valid only until the appropriate officer

under subsection (b) makes the required appointment. Whether

the appointment is by the required officer or by the

chairperson of the council, the appointment shall become

effective immediately upon expiration of the incumbent

member's term.

Section 3. Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the act are

reenacted to read:

Section 5. Powers and duties of the council.

(a) General powers.--The council shall exercise all powers

necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties, including the

following:

(1) To employ an executive director, investigators and

other staff necessary to comply with the provisions of this

act and regulations promulgated thereunder, to employ or

retain legal counsel and to engage professional consultants,

as it deems necessary to the performance of its duties. Any

consultants, other than sole source consultants, engaged by

the council shall be selected in accordance with the

provisions for contracting with vendors set forth in section

16.

(2) To fix the compensation of all employees and to

prescribe their duties. Notwithstanding the independence of

the council under section 4(a), employees under this

paragraph shall be deemed employees of the Commonwealth for

the purposes of participation in the Pennsylvania Employee

Benefit Trust Fund.

(3) To make and execute contracts and other instruments,

20150SB0396PN0311 - 15 -

including those for purchase of services and purchase or

leasing of equipment and supplies, necessary or convenient to

the exercise of the powers of the council. Any such contract

shall be let only in accordance with the provision for

contracting with vendors set forth in section 16.

(4) To conduct examinations and investigations, to

conduct audits, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c),

and to hear testimony and take proof, under oath or

affirmation, at public or private hearings, on any matter

necessary to its duties.

(4.1) To provide hospitals with individualized data on

patient safety indicators pursuant to section 6(c)(7). The

data shall be risk adjusted and made available to hospitals

electronically and free of charge on a quarterly basis within

45 days of receipt of the corrected quarterly data from the

hospitals. The data is intended to provide the patient safety

committee of each hospital with information necessary to

assist in conducting patient safety analysis.

(5) To do all things necessary to carry out its duties

under the provisions of this act.

(b) Rules and regulations.--The council shall promulgate

rules and regulations in accordance with the act of June 25,

1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act,

necessary to carry out its duties under this act. This

subsection shall not apply to regulations in effect on June 30,

2008.

independently audit all information required to be submitted by

data sources as needed to corroborate the accuracy of the

submitted data, pursuant to the following:

20150SB0396PN0311 - 16 -

(1) Audits of information submitted by providers or

health care insurers shall be performed on a sample and

issue-specific basis, as needed by the council, and shall be

coordinated, to the extent practicable, with audits performed

by the Commonwealth. All health care insurers and providers

are hereby required to make those books, records of accounts

and any other data needed by the auditors available to the

council at a convenient location within 30 days of a written

notification by the council.

(2) Audits of information submitted by purchasers shall

be performed on a sample basis, unless there exists

reasonable cause to audit specific purchasers, but in no case

shall the council have the power to audit financial

statements of purchasers.

(3) All audits performed by the council shall be

performed at the expense of the council.

(4) The results of audits of providers or health care

insurers shall be provided to the audited providers and

health care insurers on a timely basis, not to exceed 30 days

beyond presentation of audit findings to the council.

(d) General duties and functions.--The council is hereby

authorized to and shall perform the following duties and

functions:

(1) Develop a computerized system for the collection,

analysis and dissemination of data. The council may contract

with a vendor who will provide such data processing services.

The council shall assure that the system will be capable of

processing all data required to be collected under this act.

Any vendor selected by the council shall be selected in

accordance with the provisions of section 16, and said vendor

20150SB0396PN0311 - 17 -

shall relinquish any and all proprietary rights or claims to

the data base created as a result of implementation of the

data processing system.

(2) Establish a Pennsylvania Uniform Claims and Billing

Form for all data sources and all providers which shall be

utilized and maintained by all data sources and all providers

for all services covered under this act.

(3) Collect and disseminate data, as specified in

section 6, and other information from data sources to which

the council is entitled, prepared according to formats, time

frames and confidentiality provisions as specified in

sections 6 and 10, and by the council.

(4) Adopt and implement a methodology to collect and

disseminate data reflecting provider quality and provider

service effectiveness pursuant to section 6.

(5) Subject to the restrictions on access to raw data

set forth in section 10, issue special reports and make

available raw data as defined in section 3 to any purchaser

requesting it. Sale by any recipient or exchange or

publication by a recipient, other than a purchaser, of raw

council data to other parties without the express written

consent of, and under terms approved by, the council shall be

unauthorized use of data pursuant to section 10(c).

(6) On an annual basis, publish in the Pennsylvania

Bulletin a list of all the raw data reports it has prepared

under section 10(f) and a description of the data obtained

through each computer-to-computer access it has provided

under section 10(f) and of the names of the parties to whom

the council provided the reports or the computer-to-computer

access during the previous month.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 18 -

(7) Promote competition in the health care and health

insurance markets.

(8) Assure that the use of council data does not raise

access barriers to care.

(10) Make annual reports to the General Assembly on the

rate of increase in the cost of health care in the

Commonwealth and the effectiveness of the council in carrying

out the legislative intent of this act. In addition, the

council may make recommendations on the need for further

health care cost containment legislation. The council shall

also make annual reports to the General Assembly on the

quality and effectiveness of health care and access to health

care for all citizens of the Commonwealth.

(12) Conduct studies and publish reports thereon

analyzing the effects that noninpatient, alternative health

care delivery systems have on health care costs. These

systems shall include, but not be limited to: HMO's; PPO's;

primary health care facilities; home health care; attendant

care; ambulatory service facilities; freestanding emergency

centers; birthing centers; and hospice care. These reports

shall be submitted to the General Assembly and shall be made

available to the public.

(13) Conduct studies and make reports concerning the

utilization of experimental and nonexperimental transplant

surgery and other highly technical and experimental

procedures, including costs and mortality rates.

Section 6. Data submission and collection.

(a) (1) Submission of data.--The council is hereby

authorized to collect and data sources are hereby required to

submit, upon request of the council, all data required in

20150SB0396PN0311 - 19 -

this section, according to uniform submission formats, coding

systems and other technical specifications necessary to

render the incoming data substantially valid, consistent,

compatible and manageable using electronic data processing

according to data submission schedules, such schedules to

avoid, to the extent possible, submission of identical data

from more than one data source, established and promulgated

by the council in regulations pursuant to its authority under

section 5(b). If payor data is requested by the council, it

shall, to the extent possible, be obtained from primary payor

sources. The council shall not require any data sources to

contract with any specific vendor for submission of any

specific data elements to the council.

(1.1) Any data source shall comply with data submission

guidelines established in the report submitted under section

17.2. The council shall maintain a vendor list of at least

two vendors that may be chosen by any data source for

submission of any specific data elements.

(2) Except as provided in this section, the council may

adopt any nationally recognized methodology to adjust data

submitted under subsection (c) for severity of illness. Every

three years after the effective date of this paragraph, the

council shall solicit bids from third-party vendors to adjust

the data. The solicitation shall be in accordance with 62

Pa.C.S. (relating to procurement). In carrying out its

responsibilities, the council shall not require health care

facilities to report data elements which are not included in

the manual developed by the national uniform billing

committee. The council shall publish in the Pennsylvania

Bulletin a list of diseases, procedures and medical

20150SB0396PN0311 - 20 -

conditions, not to exceed 35, for which data under

subsections (c)(21) and (d) shall be required. The chosen

list shall not represent more than 50% of total hospital

discharges, based upon the previous year's hospital discharge

data. Subsequent to the publication of the list, any data

submission requirements under subsections (c)(21) and (d)

previously in effect shall be null and void for diseases,

procedures and medical conditions not found on the list. All

other data elements pursuant to subsection (c) shall continue

to be required from data sources. The council shall review

the list and may add no more than a net of three diseases,

procedures or medical conditions per year over a five-year

period starting on the effective date of this paragraph. The

adjusted list of diseases, procedures and medical conditions

shall at no time be more than 50% of total hospital

discharges.

(b) Pennsylvania Uniform Claims and Billing Form.--The

council shall maintain a Pennsylvania Uniform Claims and Billing

Form format. The council shall furnish said claims and billing

form format to all data sources, and said claims and billing

form shall be utilized and maintained by all data sources for

all services covered by this act. The Pennsylvania Uniform

Claims and Billing Form shall consist of the Uniform Hospital

Billing Form , as developed by the National Uniform Billing

Committee, with additional fields as necessary to provide all of

the data set forth in subsections (c) and (d).

Pennsylvania, the council shall be required to collect the

following data elements:

(1) uniform patient identifier, continuous across

20150SB0396PN0311 - 21 -

multiple episodes and providers;

(2) patient date of birth;

(3) patient sex;

(3.1) patient race, consistent with the method of

collection of race/ethnicity data by the United States Bureau

of the Census and the United States Standard Certificates of

Live Birth and Death;

(4) patient ZIP Code number;

(5) date of admission;

(6) date of discharge;

(7) principal and secondary diagnoses by standard code,

including external cause of injury, complication, infection

and childbirth;

(8) principal procedure by council-specified standard

code and date;

(9) up to three secondary procedures by council-

specified standard codes and dates;

(10) uniform health care facility identifier, continuous

across episodes, patients and providers;

(11) uniform identifier of admitting physician, by

unique physician identification number established by the

council, continuous across episodes, patients and providers;

(12) uniform identifier of consulting physicians, by

unique physician identification number established by the

council, continuous across episodes, patients and providers;

(13) total charges of health care facility, segregated

into major categories, including, but not limited to, room

and board, radiology, laboratory, operating room, drugs,

medical supplies and other goods and services according to

guidelines specified by the council;

20150SB0396PN0311 - 22 -

(14) actual payments to health care facility,

segregated, if available, according to the categories

specified in paragraph (13);

(15) charges of each physician or professional rendering

service relating to an incident of hospitalization or

treatment in an ambulatory service facility;

(16) actual payments to each physician or professional

rendering service pursuant to paragraph (15);

(17) uniform identifier of primary payor;

(18) ZIP Code number of facility where health care

service is rendered;

(19) uniform identifier for payor group contract number;

(20) patient discharge status; and

(21) provider service effectiveness and provider quality

pursuant to section 5(d)(4) and subsection (d).

(d) Provider quality and provider service effectiveness data

elements.--In carrying out its duty to collect data on provider

quality and provider service effectiveness under section 5(d)(4)

and subsection (c)(21), the council shall define a methodology

to measure provider service effectiveness which may include

additional data elements to be specified by the council

sufficient to carry out its responsibilities under section 5(d)

(4). The council shall not require health care insurers to

report on data elements that are not reported to nationally

recognized accrediting organizations, to the Department of

Health or to the Insurance Department in quarterly or annual

reports. The council shall not require reporting by health care

insurers in different formats than are required for reporting to

nationally recognized accrediting organizations or on quarterly

or annual reports submitted to the Department of Health or to

20150SB0396PN0311 - 23 -

the Insurance Department. The council may adopt the quality

findings as reported to nationally recognized accrediting

organizations. Additional quality data elements must be defined

and released for public comment prior to the promulgation of

regulations under section 5(b). The public comment period shall

be no less than 30 days from the release of these elements.

(e) Reserve field utilization and addition or deletion of

data elements.--The council shall include in the Pennsylvania

Uniform Claims and Billing Form a reserve field. The council may

utilize the reserve field by adding other data elements beyond

those required to carry out its responsibilities under section

5(d)(3) and (4) and subsections (c) and (d), or the council may

delete data elements from the Pennsylvania Uniform Claims and

Billing Form only by a majority vote of the council and only

pursuant to the following procedure:

(1) The council shall obtain a cost-benefit analysis of

the proposed addition or deletion which shall include the

cost to data sources of any proposed additions.

(2) The council shall publish notice of the proposed

addition or deletion, along with a copy or summary of the

cost-benefit analysis, in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, and such

notice shall include provision for a 60-day comment period.

(3) The council may hold additional hearings or request

such other reports as it deems necessary and shall consider

the comments received during the 60-day comment period and

any additional information gained through such hearings or

other reports in making a final determination on the proposed

addition or deletion.

(f) Other data required to be submitted.--Providers are

hereby required to submit and the council is hereby authorized

20150SB0396PN0311 - 24 -

to collect, in accordance with submission dates and schedules

established by the council, the following additional data,

provided such data is not available to the council from public

records:

(1) Audited annual financial reports of all hospitals

and ambulatory service facilities providing covered services

as defined in section 3.

(2) The Medicare cost report for Medical Assistance or

successor forms, including the settled Medicare cost report.

(3) Additional data, including, but not limited to, data

which can be used in reports about:

(i) the incidence of medical and surgical procedures

in the population for individual providers;

(ii) physicians who provide covered services and

accept medical assistance patients;

(iii) physicians who provide covered services and

accept Medicare assignment as full payment;

(v) mortality rates for specified diagnoses and

treatments, grouped by severity, for individual

providers;

(vi) rates of infection for specified diagnoses and

treatments, grouped by severity, for individual

providers;

(vii) morbidity rates for specified diagnoses and

treatments, grouped by severity, for individual

providers;

(viii) readmission rates for specified diagnoses and

treatments, grouped by severity, for individual

providers;

(ix) rate of incidence of postdischarge professional

20150SB0396PN0311 - 25 -

care for selected diagnoses and procedures, grouped by

severity, for individual providers; and

(x) data from other public sources.

(4) Any other data the council requires to carry out its

responsibilities pursuant to section 5(d).

(f.1) Review and correction of data.--The council shall

provide a reasonable period for data sources to review and

correct the data submitted under section 6 which the council

intends to prepare and issue in reports to the General Assembly,

to the general public or in special studies and reports under

section 11. When corrections are provided, the council shall

correct the appropriate data in its data files and subsequent

reports.

(g) Allowance for clarification or dissents.--The council

shall maintain a file of written statements submitted by data

sources who wish to provide an explanation of data that they

feel might be misleading or misinterpreted. The council shall

provide access to such file to any person and shall, where

practical, in its reports and data files indicate the

availability of such statements. When the council agrees with

such statements, it shall correct the appropriate data and

comments in its data files and subsequent reports.

(g.1) Allowance for correction.--The council shall verify

the patient safety indicator data submitted by hospitals

pursuant to subsection (c)(7) within 60 days of receipt. The

council may allow hospitals to make changes to the data

submitted during the verification period. After the verification

period, but within 45 days of receipt of the adjusted hospital

data, the council shall risk adjust the information and provide

reports to the patient safety committee of the relevant

20150SB0396PN0311 - 26 -

hospital.

(h) Availability of data.--Nothing in this act shall

prohibit a purchaser from obtaining from its health care

insurer, nor relieve said health care insurer from the

obligation of providing said purchaser, on terms consistent with

past practices, data previously provided or additional data not

currently provided to said purchaser by said health care insurer

pursuant to any existing or future arrangement, agreement or

understanding.

Section 7. Data dissemination and publication.

(a) Public reports.--Subject to the restrictions on access

to council data set forth in section 10 and utilizing the data

collected under section 6 as well as other data, records and

matters of record available to it, the council shall prepare and

issue reports to the General Assembly and to the general public

according to the following provisions:

(1) The council shall, for every provider of both

inpatient and outpatient services within this Commonwealth

and within appropriate regions and subregions, prepare and

issue reports on provider quality and service effectiveness

on diseases or procedures that, when ranked by volume, cost,

payment and high variation in outcome, represent the best

opportunity to improve overall provider quality, improve

patient safety and provide opportunities for cost reduction.

These reports shall provide comparative information on the

following:

(i) Differences in mortality rates; differences in

length of stay; differences in complication rates;

differences in readmission rates; differences in

infection rates; and other comparative outcome measures

20150SB0396PN0311 - 27 -

the council may develop that will allow purchasers,

providers and consumers to make purchasing and quality

improvement decisions based upon quality patient care and

to restrain costs.

(ii) The incidence rate of selected medical or

surgical procedures, the quality and service

effectiveness and the payments received for those

providers, identified by the name and type or specialty,

for which these elements vary significantly from the

norms for all providers.

(2) In preparing its reports under paragraph (1), the

council shall ensure that factors which have the effect of

either reducing provider revenue or increasing provider costs

and other factors beyond a provider's control which reduce

provider competitiveness in the marketplace are explained in

the reports. The council shall also ensure that any

clarifications and dissents submitted by individual providers

under section 6(g) are noted in any reports that include

release of data on that individual provider.

(b) Raw data reports and computer access to council data.--

The council shall provide special reports derived from raw data

and a means for computer-to-computer access to its raw data to

any purchaser, pursuant to section 10(f). The council shall

provide such reports and computer-to-computer access, at its

discretion, to other parties, pursuant to section 10(g). The

council shall provide these special reports and computer-to-

computer access in as timely a fashion as the council's

responsibilities to publish the public reports required in this

section will allow. Any such provision of special reports or

computer-to-computer access by the council shall be made only

20150SB0396PN0311 - 28 -

subject to the restrictions on access to raw data set forth in

section 10(b) and only after payment for costs of preparation or

duplication pursuant to section 10(f) or (g).

Section 8. Health care for the medically indigent.

(a) Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly finds that

every person in this Commonwealth should receive timely and

appropriate health care services from any provider operating in

this Commonwealth; that, as a continuing condition of licensure,

each provider should offer and provide medically necessary,

lifesaving and emergency health care services to every person in

this Commonwealth, regardless of financial status or ability to

pay; and that health care facilities may transfer patients only

in instances where the facility lacks the staff or facilities to

properly render definitive treatment.

(b) Studies on indigent care.--To reduce the undue burden on

the several providers that disproportionately treat medically

indigent people on an uncompensated basis, to contain the long-

term costs generated by untreated or delayed treatment of

illness and disease and to determine the most appropriate means

of treating and financing the treatment of medically indigent

persons, the council, at the request of the Governor or the

General Assembly, may undertake studies and utilize its current

data base to:

(1) Study and analyze the medically indigent population,

the magnitude of uncompensated care for the medically

indigent, the degree of access to and the result of any lack

of access by the medically indigent to appropriate care, the

types of providers and the settings in which they provide

indigent care and the cost of the provision of that care

pursuant to subsection (c).

20150SB0396PN0311 - 29 -

(2) Determine, from studies undertaken under paragraph

(1), a definition of the medically indigent population and

the most appropriate method for the delivery of timely and

appropriate health care services to the medically indigent.

subsection (b)(1) and thereafter report to the Governor and the

General Assembly the results of the studies and its

recommendations. The council may contract with an independent

vendor to conduct the study in accordance with the provisions

for selecting vendors in section 16. The study shall include,

but not be limited to, the following:

(1) the number and characteristics of the medically

indigent population, including such factors as income,

employment status, health status, patterns of health care

utilization, type of health care needed and utilized,

eligibility for health care insurance, distribution of this

population on a geographic basis and by age, sex and racial

or linguistic characteristics, and the changes in these

characteristics, including the following:

(i) the needs and problems of indigent persons in

urban areas;

(ii) the needs and problems of indigent persons in

rural areas;

(iii) the needs and problems of indigent persons who

are members of racial or linguistic minorities;

(iv) the needs and problems of indigent persons in

areas of high unemployment; and

(v) the needs and problems of the underinsured;

(2) the degree of and any change in access of this

population to sources of health care, including hospitals,

20150SB0396PN0311 - 30 -

physicians and other providers;

(3) the distribution and means of financing indigent

care between and among providers, insurers, government,

purchasers and consumers, and the effect of that distribution

on each;

(4) the major types of care rendered to the indigent,

the setting in which each type of care is rendered and the

need for additional care of each type by the indigent;

(5) the likely impact of changes in the health delivery

system, including managed care entities, and the effects of

cost containment in the Commonwealth on the access to,

availability of and financing of needed care for the

indigent, including the impact on providers which provide a

disproportionate amount of care to the indigent;

(6) the distribution of delivered care and actual cost

to render such care by provider, region and subregion;

(7) the provision of care to the indigent through

improvements in the primary health care system, including the

management of needed hospital care by primary care providers;

(8) innovative means to finance and deliver care to the

medically indigent; and

(9) reduction in the dependence of indigent persons on

hospital services through improvements in preventive health

measures.

Section 9. Mandated health benefits.

In relation to current law or proposed legislation, the

council shall, upon the request of the appropriate committee

chairman in the Senate and in the House of Representatives or

upon the request of the Secretary of Health, provide information

on the proposed mandated health benefit pursuant to the

20150SB0396PN0311 - 31 -

following:

(1) The General Assembly hereby declares that proposals

for mandated health benefits or mandated health insurance

coverage should be accompanied by adequate, independently

certified documentation defining the social and financial

impact and medical efficacy of the proposal. To that end the

council, upon receipt of such requests, is hereby authorized

to conduct a preliminary review of the material submitted by

both proponents and opponents concerning the proposed

mandated benefit. If, after this preliminary review, the

council is satisfied that both proponents and opponents have

submitted sufficient documentation necessary for a review

pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4), the council is directed

to contract with individuals, pursuant to the selection

procedures for vendors set forth in section 16, who will

constitute a Mandated Benefits Review Panel to review

mandated benefits proposals and provide independently

certified documentation, as provided for in this section.

(2) The panel shall consist of senior researchers, each

of whom shall be a recognized expert:

(i) one in health research;

(ii) one in biostatistics;

(iii) one in economic research;

(iv) one, a physician, in the appropriate specialty

with current knowledge of the subject being proposed as a

mandated benefit; and

(v) one with experience in insurance or actuarial

research.

(3) The Mandated Benefits Review Panel shall have the

following duties and responsibilities:

20150SB0396PN0311 - 32 -

(i) To review documentation submitted by persons

proposing or opposing mandated benefits within 90 days of

submission of said documentation to the panel.

(ii) To report to the council, pursuant to its

review in subparagraph (i), the following:

(A) Whether or not the documentation is complete

as defined in paragraph (4).

(B) Whether or not the research cited in the

documentation meets professional standards.

respecting the proposed mandated benefit has been

cited in the documentation.

(D) Whether or not the conclusions and

interpretations in the documentation are consistent

with the data submitted.

(4) To provide the Mandated Benefits Review Panel with

sufficient information to carry out its duties and

responsibilities pursuant to paragraph (3), persons proposing

or opposing legislation mandating benefits coverage should

submit documentation to the council, pursuant to the

procedure established in paragraph (5), which demonstrates

the following:

(i) The extent to which the proposed benefit and the

services it would provide are needed by, available to and

utilized by the population of the Commonwealth.

(ii) The extent to which insurance coverage for the

proposed benefit already exists, or if no such coverage

exists, the extent to which this lack of coverage results

in inadequate health care or financial hardship for the

population of the Commonwealth.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 33 -

(iii) The demand for the proposed benefit from the

public and the source and extent of opposition to

mandating the benefit.

(iv) All relevant findings bearing on the social

impact of the lack of the proposed benefit.

(v) Where the proposed benefit would mandate

coverage of a particular therapy, the results of at least

one professionally accepted, controlled trial comparing

the medical consequences of the proposed therapy,

alternative therapies and no therapy.

(vi) Where the proposed benefit would mandate

coverage of an additional class of practitioners, the

results of at least one professionally accepted,

controlled trial comparing the medical results achieved

by the additional class of practitioners and those

practitioners already covered by benefits.

(vii) The results of any other relevant research.

(viii) Evidence of the financial impact of the

proposed legislation, including at least:

(A) The extent to which the proposed benefit

would increase or decrease cost for treatment or

service.

(B) The extent to which similar mandated

benefits in other states have affected charges, costs

and payments for services.

would increase the appropriate use of the treatment

or service.

(D) The impact of the proposed benefit on

administrative expenses of health care insurers.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 34 -

(E) The impact of the proposed benefits on

benefits costs of purchasers.

(F) The impact of the proposed benefits on the

total cost of health care within the Commonwealth.

(5) The procedure for review of documentation is as

follows:

(i) Any person wishing to submit information on

proposed legislation mandating insurance benefits for

review by the panel should submit the documentation

specified in paragraph (4) to the council.

(ii) The council shall, within 30 days of receipt of

the documentation:

(A) Publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin notice

of receipt of the documentation, a description of the

proposed legislation, provision for a period of 60

days for public comment and the time and place at

which any person may examine the documentation.

(B) Submit copies of the documentation to the

Secretary of Health and the Insurance Commissioner,

who shall review and submit comments to the council

on the proposed legislation within 30 days.

panel, which shall review the documentation and issue

their findings, pursuant to paragraph (3), within 90

days.

(iii) Upon receipt of the comments of the Secretary

of Health and the Insurance Commissioner and of the

findings of the panel, pursuant to subparagraph (ii), but

no later than 120 days following the publication required

in subparagraph (ii), the council shall submit said

20150SB0396PN0311 - 35 -

comments and findings, together with its recommendations

respecting the proposed legislation, to the Governor, the

President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the

House of Representatives, the Secretary of Health, the

Insurance Commissioner and the person who submitted the

information pursuant to subparagraph (i).

Section 10. Right-to-Know Law and access to council data.

(a) Public access.--The information and data received by the

council shall be utilized by the council for the benefit of the

public and public officials. Subject to the specific limitations

set forth in this section and section 3101.1 of the act of

February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law,

the council shall make determinations on requests for

information in favor of access. Payor discounts and allowances

are considered confidential proprietary information and, as

such, are not records subject to the requirements for public

access established under the Right-to-Know Law.

(a.1) Outreach programs.--The council shall develop and

implement outreach programs designed to make its information

understandable and usable to purchasers, providers, other

Commonwealth agencies and the general public. The programs shall

include efforts to educate through pamphlets, booklets, seminars

and other appropriate measures and to facilitate making more

informed health care choices.

(b) Limitations on access.--Unless specifically provided for

in this act, neither the council nor any contracting system

vendor shall release and no data source, person, member of the

public or other user of any data of the council shall gain

access to:

(1) Any raw data of the council that does not

20150SB0396PN0311 - 36 -

simultaneously disclose payment, as well as provider quality

and provider service effectiveness pursuant to sections 5(d)

(4) and 6(d) or 7(a)(1)(iii).

(2) Any raw data of the council which could reasonably

be expected to reveal the identity of an individual patient.

(3) Any raw data of the council which could reasonably

be expected to reveal the identity of any purchaser, as

defined in section 3, other than a purchaser requesting data

on its own group or an entity entitled to said purchaser's

data pursuant to subsection (f).

(4) Any raw data of the council relating to actual

payments to any identified provider made by any purchaser,

except that this provision shall not apply to access by a

purchaser requesting data on the group for which it purchases

or otherwise provides covered services or to access to that

same data by an entity entitled to the purchaser's data

pursuant to subsection (f).

(5) Any raw data disclosing discounts or allowances

between identified payors and providers unless the data is

released in a Statewide, aggregate format that does not

identify any individual payor or class of payors, directly or

indirectly through the use of a market share, and unless the

council assures that the release of such information is not

prejudicial or inequitable to any individual payor or

provider or group thereof. Payor data shall be released to

individual providers for purposes of verification and

validation prior to inclusion in a public report. An

individual provider shall verify and validate the payor data

within 30 days of its release to that specific individual

provider.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 37 -

releases council data violating the patient confidentiality,

actual payments, discount data or raw data safeguards set forth

in this section to an unauthorized person commits a misdemeanor

of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to

pay a fine of $10,000 or to imprisonment for not more than five

years, or both. An unauthorized person who knowingly receives or

possesses such data commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) Unauthorized access to data.--Should any person

inadvertently or by council error gain access to data that

violates the safeguards set forth in this section, the data must

immediately be returned, without duplication, to the council

with proper notification.

(e) Public access to records.--All public reports prepared

by the council shall be public records and shall be available to

the public for a reasonable fee, and copies shall be provided,

upon request of the chair, to the Public Health and Welfare

Committee of the Senate and the Health and Welfare Committee of

the House of Representatives.

(f) Access to raw council data by purchasers.--Pursuant to

sections 5(d)(5) and 7(b) and subject to the limitations on

access set forth in subsection (b), the council shall provide

access to its raw data to purchasers in accordance with the

following procedure:

(1) Special reports derived from raw data of the council

shall be provided by the council to any purchaser requesting

such reports.

(2) A means to enable computer-to-computer access by any

purchaser to raw data of the council as defined in section 3

shall be developed, adopted and implemented by the council,

20150SB0396PN0311 - 38 -

and the council shall provide such access to its raw data to

any purchaser upon request.

(3) In the event that any employer obtains from the

council, pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), data pertaining to

its employees and their dependents for whom said employer

purchases or otherwise provides covered services as defined

in section 3 and who are represented by a certified

collective bargaining representative, said collective

bargaining representative shall be entitled to that same

data, after payment of fees as specified in paragraph (4).

Likewise, should a certified collective bargaining

representative obtain from the council, pursuant to paragraph

(1) or (2), data pertaining to its members and their

dependents who are employed by and for whom covered services

are purchased or otherwise provided by any employer, said

employer shall be entitled to that same data, after payment

of fees as specified in paragraph (4).

(4) In providing for access to its raw data, the council

shall charge the purchasers which originally obtained such

access a fee sufficient to cover its costs to prepare and

provide special reports requested pursuant to paragraph (1)

or to provide computer-to-computer access to its raw data

requested pursuant to paragraph (2). Should a second or

subsequent party or parties request this same information

pursuant to paragraph (3), the council shall charge said

party a reasonable fee.

(g) Access to raw council data by other parties.--Subject to

the limitations on access to raw council data set forth in

subsection (b), the council may, at its discretion, provide

special reports derived from its raw data or computer-to-

20150SB0396PN0311 - 39 -

computer access to parties other than purchasers. The council

shall publish regulations that set forth the criteria and the

procedure it shall use in making determinations on such access,

pursuant to the powers vested in the council in section 4. In

providing such access, the council shall charge the party

requesting the access a reasonable fee.

Section 4. Section 11 of the act is reenacted and amended to

read:

Section 11. Special studies and reports.

(a) Special studies.--Any Commonwealth agency may publish or

contract for publication of special studies. Any special study

so published shall become a public document.

(b) Special reports.--

(1) Any Commonwealth agency may study and issue a report

on the special medical needs, demographic characteristics,

access or lack thereof to health care services and need for

financing of health care services of:

(i) Senior citizens, particularly low-income senior

citizens, senior citizens who are members of minority

groups and senior citizens residing in low-income urban

or rural areas.

(ii) Low-income urban or rural areas.

(iii) Minority communities.

(iv) Women.

(v) Children.

(vi) Unemployed workers.

(vii) Veterans.

The reports shall include information on the current

availability of services to these targeted parts of the

population, and whether access to such services has increased

20150SB0396PN0311 - 40 -

or decreased over the past [ten] 10 years, and specific

recommendations for the improvement of their primary care and

health delivery systems, including disease prevention and

comprehensive health care services. The department may also

study and report on the effects of using prepaid, capitated

or HMO health delivery systems as ways to promote the

delivery of primary health care services to the underserved

segments of the population enumerated above.

(2) The department may study and report on the short-

term and long-term fiscal and programmatic impact on the

health care consumer of changes in ownership of hospitals

from nonprofit to profit, whether through purchase, merger or

the like. The department may also study and report on factors

which have the effect of either reducing provider revenue or

increasing provider cost, and other factors beyond a

provider's control which reduce provider competitiveness in

the marketplace, are explained in the reports.

Section 5. Section 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.1, 17.2 and 18 of

the act are reenacted to read:

Section 12. Enforcement; penalty.

(a) Compliance enforcement.--The council shall have standing

to bring an action in law or in equity through private counsel

in any court of common pleas to enforce compliance with any

provision of this act, except section 11, or any requirement or

appropriate request of the council made pursuant to this act. In

addition, the Attorney General is authorized and shall bring any

such enforcement action in aid of the council in any court of

common pleas at the request of the council in the name of the

Commonwealth.

(b) Penalty.--

20150SB0396PN0311 - 41 -

(1) Any person who fails to supply data pursuant to

section 6 may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed

$1,000 for each day the data is not submitted.

(2) Any person who knowingly submits inaccurate data

under section 6 commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and

shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000

or to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Section 13. Research and demonstration projects.

The council shall actively encourage research and

demonstrations to design and test improved methods of assessing

provider quality, provider service effectiveness and efficiency.

To that end, provided that no data submission requirements in a

mandated demonstration may exceed the current reserve field on

the Pennsylvania Uniform Claims and Billing Form, the council

may:

(1) Authorize contractors engaged in health services

research selected by the council, pursuant to the provisions

of section 16, to have access to the council's raw data

files, providing such entities assume any contractual

obligations imposed by the council to assure patient identity

confidentiality.

(2) Place data sources participating in research and

demonstrations on different data submission requirements from

other data sources in this Commonwealth.

(3) Require data source participation in research and

demonstration projects when this is the only testing method

the council determines is promising.

Section 14. Grievances and grievance procedures.

(a) Procedures and requirements.--Pursuant to its powers to

publish regulations under section 5(b) and with the requirements

20150SB0396PN0311 - 42 -

of this section, the council is hereby authorized and directed

to establish procedures and requirements for the filing, hearing

and adjudication of grievances against the council of any data

source. Such procedures and requirements shall be published in

the Pennsylvania Bulletin pursuant to law.

(b) Claims; hearings.--Grievance claims of any data source

shall be submitted to the council or to a third party designated

by the council, and the council or the designated third party

shall convene a hearing, if requested, and adjudicate the

grievance.

Section 15. Antitrust provisions.

Persons or entities required to submit data or information

under this act or receiving data or information from the council

in accordance with this act are declared to be acting pursuant

to State requirements embodied in this act and shall be exempt

from antitrust claims or actions grounded upon submission or

receipt of such data or information.

Section 16. Contracts with vendors.

Any contract with any vendor other than a sole source vendor

for purchase of services or for purchase or lease of supplies

and equipment related to the council's powers and duties shall

be let only after a public bidding process and only in

accordance with the following provisions, and no contract shall

be let by the council that does not conform to these provisions:

(1) The council shall prepare specifications fully

describing the services to be rendered or equipment or

supplies to be provided by a vendor and shall make these

specifications available for inspection by any person at the

council's offices during normal working hours and at such

other places and such other times as the council deems

20150SB0396PN0311 - 43 -

advisable.

(2) The council shall publish notice of invitations to

bid in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The council shall also

publish such notice in at least four newspapers in general

circulation in the Commonwealth on at least three occasions

at intervals of not less than three days. Said notice shall

include at least the following:

(i) The deadline for submission of bids by

prospective vendors, which shall be no sooner than 30

days following the latest publication of the notice as

prescribed in this paragraph.

(ii) The locations, dates and times during which

prospective vendors can examine the specifications

required in paragraph (1).

(iii) The date, time and place of the meeting or

meetings of the council at which bids will be opened and

accepted.

(iv) A statement to the effect that any person is

eligible to bid.

(3) Bids shall be accepted as follows:

(i) No council member who is affiliated in any way

with any bidder shall vote on the awarding of any

contract for which said bidder has submitted a bid, and

any council member who has an affiliation with a bidder

shall state the nature of the affiliation prior to any

vote of the council.

(ii) Bids shall be opened and reviewed by the

appropriate council committee, which shall make

recommendations to the council on approval. Bids shall be

accepted and such acceptance shall be announced only at a

20150SB0396PN0311 - 44 -

public meeting of the council as defined in section 4(e),

and no bids shall be accepted at an executive session of

the council.

(iii) The council may require that a certified

check, in an amount determined by the council, accompany

every bid, and, when so required, no bid shall be

accepted unless so accompanied.

(4) In order to prevent any party from deliberately

underbidding contracts in order to gain or prevent access to

council data, the council may award any contract at its

discretion, regardless of the amount of the bid, pursuant to

the following:

(i) Any bid accepted must reasonably reflect the

actual cost of services provided.

(ii) Any vendor so selected by the council shall be

found by the council to be of such character and such

integrity as to assure, to the maximum extent possible,

adherence to all the provisions of this act in the

provision of contracted services.

(iii) The council may require the selected vendor to

furnish, within 20 days after the contract has been

awarded, a bond with suitable and reasonable requirements

guaranteeing the services to be performed with sufficient

surety in an amount determined by the council, and upon

failure to furnish such bond within the time specified,

the previous award shall be void.

(5) The council shall make efforts to assure that its

vendors have established affirmative action plans to assure

equal opportunity policies for hiring and promoting

employees.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 45 -

Section 17.1. Reporting.

The council shall provide an annual report of its financial

expenditures to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and

the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.

Section 17.2. Health Care Cost Containment Council Act Review

Committee.

(a) Establishment.--There is established an independent

committee to be known as the Health Care Cost Containment

Council Act Review Committee.

(b) Composition.--The committee shall consist of the

following voting members composed of and appointed as follows:

(1) One member appointed by the Governor.

(2) Four members appointed by the General Assembly, one

of whom appointed by each of the following:

(i) one by the President pro tempore of the Senate;

(ii) one by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(iii) one by the Majority Leader of the House of

Representatives; and

(iv) one by the Minority Leader of the House of

Representatives.

(3) Two representatives of the business community, at

least one of whom represents small business, and neither of

whom is primarily involved in the provision of health care or

health insurance, one of whom appointed by the President pro

tempore of the Senate and one of whom appointed by the

Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list of four

qualified persons recommended by the Pennsylvania Chamber of

Business and Industry.

(4) Two representatives of organized labor, one of whom

appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and one

20150SB0396PN0311 - 46 -

of whom appointed by the Speaker of the House of

Representatives from a list of four qualified persons

recommended by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

(5) One representative of consumers who is not primarily

involved in the provision of health care or health care

insurance, appointed by the Governor from a list of three

qualified persons recommended jointly by the President pro

tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

Representatives.

(6) One representative of a health care facility,

appointed by the Governor from a list of three qualified

hospital representatives recommended by the Hospital and

Health System Association of Pennsylvania.

(7) One representative of physicians, appointed by the

Governor from a list of three qualified physician

representatives recommended jointly by the Pennsylvania

Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical

Society.

(8) One representative of nurses, appointed by the

Governor from a list of three qualified representatives

recommended by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association.

(9) One representative of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield

plans in Pennsylvania, pursuant to 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61

(relating to Hospital Plan Corporations), appointed by the

Governor from a list of three qualified persons recommended

jointly by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans of

Pennsylvania.

(10) One representative of commercial insurance

carriers, appointed by the Governor from a list of three

qualified persons recommended by the Insurance Federation of

20150SB0396PN0311 - 47 -

Pennsylvania, Inc.

subsection (b)(1) shall serve as chairman of the committee.

(d) Quorum.--Eleven members shall constitute a quorum for

the transaction of any business, and action by the majority of

the members present at any meeting in which there is a quorum

shall be deemed to be action of the committee.

(e) Meetings.--

(1) All meetings of the committee shall be advertised

and conducted pursuant to 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open

meetings).

(2) All action taken by the committee shall be taken in

open public session, and action of the committee shall not be

taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the

members of the committee present during meetings at which a

quorum is present.

(f) Compensation and expenses.--The members of the committee

shall not receive a salary or per diem allowance for serving as

members of the committee but shall be reimbursed for actual and

necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Expenses may include reimbursement of travel and living expenses

while engaged in committee business.

(g) Commencement of committee.--

(1) Within 15 days after the effective date of this

section, each organization or individual required to submit a

list of recommended persons to the Governor, the President

pro tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of

Representatives under subsection (b) shall submit the list.

(2) Within 30 days of the effective date of this

section, the Governor, the President pro tempore of the

20150SB0396PN0311 - 48 -

Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

make the appointments called for in subsection (b), and the

committee shall begin operations immediately following the

appointments.

(h) Responsibilities of the committee.--The committee shall

have the following powers and duties:

(1) To study, review and recommend changes to this act.

(2) To accept and review suggested changes to this act

submitted by members of the committee.

(3) To approve, by a majority vote of the members of the

committee, a report recommending statutory changes to this

act. The report shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(i) The establishment of an Internet database for

the general public showing Medicare reimbursement rates

for common covered services and treatment.

(ii) In consultation with experts in the fields of

quality data and outcome measures, the definition and

implementation of:

(A) A methodology by provider type for the

council to risk-adjust quality data.

(B) A methodology for the council to collect and

disseminate data reflecting provider quality and

provider service effectiveness.

(4) To submit the report approved under paragraph (3) to

the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of

the House of Representatives within six months after the

effective date of this section.

(i) Committee support.--The council shall offer staff and

administrative support from the council or its work groups

necessary for the committee to carry out its duties under this

20150SB0396PN0311 - 49 -

section.

Section 18. Severability.

The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of

this act or its application to any person or circumstance is

held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions

or applications of this act which can be given effect without

the invalid provision or application.

Section 6. Section 19 of the act is reenacted and amended to

read:

Section 19. [Sunset] Expiration.

This act shall expire June 30, [2014] 2019, unless reenacted

prior to that date. [By September 1, 2013, a written report by

the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee evaluating the

management, visibility, awareness and performance of the council

shall be provided to the Public Health and Welfare Committee of

the Senate and the Health and Human Services Committee of the

House of Representatives. The report shall include a review of

the council's procedures and policies, the availability and

quality of data for completing reports , whether there is a more

cost-efficient way of accomplishing the objectives of the

council and the need for reauthorization of the council.]

Section 7. Section 20 of the act is reenacted to read:

Section 20. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.

Section 8. This act shall be retroactive to June 29, 2014.

Section 9. This act shall take effect immediately.

20150SB0396PN0311 - 50 -