Why Strong Data is Vital to Health Care, Communities

April 16, 2026

Data plays a critical role helping policymakers understand the challenges facing Pennsylvania’s health care system and communities and informing solutions to protect access to care, health care and business leaders said during a panel discussion this morning.

During Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council’s 40 Years of Value—Transparency in Health Care celebration, HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings joined panelists in discussing the challenges facing the commonwealth’s hospitals and health care providers and why a strong health care system is essential to vibrant, healthy, and competitive communities. She shared the ways HAP has leveraged data to help the public and policymakers better understand hospital financial distress and the urgency to act on solutions.

“It’s more than just saying hospitals are economic engines. We can put a number to it,” Stallings said. “It’s more than just saying hospitals are underpaid for the care they provide. We can say hospitals are reimbursed only 71 cents on the dollar by Medicaid… Then policymakers understand the problem that needs to be fixed.”

Joining Stallings were Neal Lesher, government affairs director, PA Chamber; Marty Raniowski, CEO, Pennsylvania Medical Society; Mike Yantis, vice president, state government affairs, Highmark; and Christina Koren, D.Ed., director of strategic partnerships, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

During a later session, state leaders emphasized the need to safeguard Pennsylvania hospitals’ long-term stability.

"I think the number one thing that we could do (to control health care costs) is actually pay reasonable rates for Medicare and Medicaid," said State Representative Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster).

Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH emphasized the importance of insight into hospital and service line financial strain to informing policy solutions.

“We have been using that data to make the case that Medicaid rates are extremely important to what happens next for our hospitals, especially our rural hospitals,” she said.