Section 449.17b - 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 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 Pennsylvania, Inc.(c) Chairperson.--The appointment made by the Governor under 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 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 section.1986, July 8, P.L. 408, No. 89, § 17.2, added 2009, June 10, P.L. 10, No. 3, §6, retroactive effective 6/29/2008.