FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Suran
717-232-6787 or
Harrisburg, PA - December 8, 2005 - Marc P. Volavka, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), was elected Chairman of the Board at the 20th Annual Meeting of the National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) held in Washington, D.C. on December 5-6. His term is for one year. Mr. Volavka, PHC4’s Executive Director since 1998, succeeds Michael Lundberg, Executive Director of Virginia Health Information.
"Providing credible health data to better inform public policy has never been more important, said Mr. Volavka. He noted that the organization has members in every state, as well as many Federal health agencies, and its members have helped shape national health information policy. "I am honored to hold this position," said Volavka.
Denise Love, Executive Director of NAHDO, added, "One of NAHDO’s goals is data transparency, and Pennsylvania has been passionate about transparency. Marc has brought that same passion to our Board, and will continue to do so as NAHDO’s new chair."
Other newly elected executive committee members include Pat Merryweather, Vice President for the Illinois Hospital Association, who will serve as Vice Chair. The new Secretary will be Alan Prysunka, Executive Director of the Maine Health Data Organization; and Richard Kipp, Consulting Actuary for Milliman, will serve as Treasurer.
"We look forward to the opportunity to work more closely with Federal agencies, such as the CDC and AHRQ, as well as sister State agencies, purchasers, State hospital associations, insurers and other provider groups from around the country," stated Mr. Volavka.
NAHDO is a national, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving health care through the collection, analysis, dissemination, public availability, and use of health data. Established in 1986, NAHDO continues to monitor and shape national and state health information policies and provide technical support and assistance. Its members include public and private sector health information professionals.
PHC4 is an independent state agency in Pennsylvania whose mission, under law, is to collect, analyze and disseminate cost and quality health care data to help purchasers, consumers, providers, payors and policymakers make more informed decisions. It received national attention recently when Pennsylvania became the first state in the country to begin reporting information about hospital-acquired infections.