HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council was pared down to a skeleton crew after a political stalemate at the Capitol allowed its legislative authorization to expire at midnight Monday.

Thirty-eight workers were let go, leaving only five on the job Tuesday at the council's privately leased downtown Harrisburg offices. Those employees were protecting the agency's property but they too were expected to be out at the close of business Thursday.

Council spokesman Joe Martin said a team from the governor's Office of Administration served termination notices to the employees late Monday afternoon.

"Right now we are still hopeful that they are going to resolve the situation before they leave for the summer recess," which could begin as early as Thursday, he said.

The agency, founded in 1986, monitors the cost and quality of the state's health care system and issues periodic public reports.

The Republican-controlled state Senate has tied the council's reauthorization to an extension of a malpractice insurance subsidy for doctors. But Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell wants to link the doctors' subsidy extension to his effort to expand health coverage for nearly 300,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians.

The termination of council employees is "a black eye for Pennsylvania," said Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, a point person in his caucus on health issues. He said the agency's work is a resource for people and employers.