HAP is a statewide organization that advocates on a number of issues for the nearly 250 hospital members across the state as well as for the patients and communities they serve. “I’m representing much more than Penn or even an academic medical center,” he said. “This is an opportunity for me to help guide health policy on the state level.” His 25 years of working in community hospitals (both nonprofit and for-profit) before coming to Penn, he said, “provides a unique perspective of the challenges faced by various types and sizes of hospitals across the state.”

As chair, Scheib will meet with legislators and the administration and might also be required to testify on behalf of the industry during hearings examining health-policy issues. It’s also an opportunity to work jointly with other special-interest groups, such as the PA Medical Society, “to present a united front.”

Scheib has served on HAP’s board for eight years. As chair of the organization’s Public Payer Policy Committee, he led a statewide  initiative that helped the administration and legislature balance the state budget without major cuts to Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals. “We were told that we were the only special-interest group that brought [then] Governor Rendell a solution to help balance the budget.” Members in both the state house and senate supported the measure, and it was passed into law, resulting in approximately $1.5 billion of additional hospital support over three years from the federal government.

Last year, Scheib received HAP’s Grassroots Champion Award, which recognizes leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect their hospitals’ vital role in the community and who do an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for their hospitals. In addition to his HAP association, Scheib chaired the Regional Policy Board 2 of the American Hospital Association for three years and also served on its national Board of Trustees. He is also the past chair and current member of the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council Board.

“As HAP Chairman for 2012, Garry brings exceptional depth and breadth of experience,” said Carolyn Scanlon, HAP president.  “He demonstrates a level of knowledge and leadership that will enhance patient care in an era of reform.”

Scheib credits CEO Ralph Muller for his entry into health advocacy, on both a state and national level. Muller is currently a director of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and a commissioner of The Joint Commission and has held many other leadership positions in national health-care related organizations.