FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Martin, Communications Director
717-232-6787 or jmartin@phc4.org
Harrisburg, PA - March 27, 2008 - The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) announced today that long time Executive Director Marc P. Volavka will be stepping down as head of the innovative health care agency. Mr. Volavka, currently on medical leave, will be retiring — his last day of employment has not yet been determined. Mr. Volavka was hired by PHC4 in 1993 and became Executive Director in 1998.
“Marc has been a valuable contributor to the Council and to state government over many years, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” stated Council Chairman David R. Kreider, a business community representative to the Council.
The Council appointed David H. Wilderman as Acting Executive Director, effective immediately. Mr. Wilderman served as the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO's Legislative Director from 1982 through 2005. Mr. Wilderman appointed Flossie E. Wolf, PHC4's current Director of Health Policy Research, to a new position of Acting Deputy Executive Director.
The Council has gained a widespread reputation for its innovative work in the area of public reporting of health care information, particularly for heart bypass surgery outcomes, hospital-acquired infections and overall hospital performance. The Council is a state agency whose enabling legislation will expire on June 30th of 2008 unless reauthorized by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Rendell.