Section 448.401a - Health Policy Board(a) An advisory board is hereby established in the department, known as the Health Policy Board. The membership of the board shall consist of: (1) The Secretary of Health or his designee who shall act as chairman.(2) One representative of hospitals.(4) One representative of a long-term care facility.(5) Two health care providers not already designated, one of whom shall be a provider of home health services.(6) One representative of Blue Cross or Blue Shield.(7) One representative of health maintenance organizations.(8) One representative of commercial insurance carriers.(9) One representative of business.(10) One representative of organized labor.(12) One representative of county or municipal government.(b) All members shall be appointed to the policy board by the Governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate. The Governor shall make all appointments to the policy board within 90 days of the effective date of this act, and the operations of the policy board shall begin immediately upon confirmation of the full board. The secretary shall convene the first meeting within 30 days after the confirmation of the full board.(1) Appointments shall be made in a manner that provides representation of the various geographical regions of this Commonwealth, including those medically underserved areas in rural and inner-city locations. At least two of the appointments shall be individuals knowledgeable of rural health care needs.(2) Of the 15 members first appointed, five shall be appointed for a term of one year, five for a term of two years and five for a term of three years. Thereafter, appointments shall be made for a term of three years.(3) No appointed member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms of three years.(4) No policy board member, other than the secretary, may act or attend through a designee or a proxy.(c) A simple majority of those members with current appointments of the policy board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The act by the majority of the members present at any meeting in which there is a quorum shall be deemed to be an act of the board.(d) All meetings of the policy board shall be advertised and conducted pursuant to the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84) , known as the "Sunshine Act." The board shall meet at least four times a year and may provide for special meetings as may be necessary.(e) The members of the policy board shall not receive any compensation for serving as members of the board but shall be reimbursed at established Commonwealth rates for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.1979, July 19, P.L. 130, No. 48, § 401.1, added 1992, Dec. 18, P.L. 1602, No. 179, § 3, imd. effective.