Health care system reform task force.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0691.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0331

Health care system reform task force.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Jorgensen, Hammons, Lubnau and Philp and Senator(s) Larson and Massie

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to healthcare; creating a health care system reform task force; requiring a report; providing
for an
appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

(a)

There is created a health care system reform task force consisting of eleven (11) members. The task force members shall select a chairman and a vice-chairman.

(b)

Two (2) members of the task force shall be members of house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house. Two (2) members of the task force shall be members of senate appointed by the president of the senate.

(c)

Seven (7) members of the task force shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

(i)

Two (2) members from the department of health;

(ii)

Two (2) members from the
Wyoming
health care commission; and

(iii)

Three (3) members from the public with experience with the healthcare system.

(d)

The task force shall meet at the call of the chairman to
review works in progress, recommendations and proposals of the healthcare commission to promote access to and affordability of health care and health insurance. Potential elements promoting access and affordability to be forwarded to the task force for review may include, but are not exclusively limited to:

(i)

Expansion of publicly funded programs to reduce the number of uninsured;

(ii)

Simplified enrollment in Medicaid to encourage enrollment by persons who are eligible but not yet enrolled;

(iii)

Consideration of state participation in a small business purchasing pool or in a basic benefit insurance plan for individuals not eligible for existing publicly funded programs;

(iv)

Modifications to the state high-risk insurance pool to expand coverage;

(v)

Other options to expand preventative care, chronic case management and other methods which may include strengthening of public health offices and cooperation with other state-funded or nonprofit health organizations to expand preventative care services.

(e)

As part of its duties, the task force shall:

(i)

Review reports and proposals from the commission on health care system reform that will improve access to and affordability of health care in the state;

(ii)

In conjunction with the healthcare commission, r
ecommend issues to be considered by the legislature in the 2008 budget session
and assist the healthcare commission in determining and prioritizing potential issues with respect to access and affordability of health care and health insurance for subsequent legislative action; and

(iii)

In conjunction with the healthcare commission, d
efine a process for public review and discussion of task force topics that includes at least five (5) community town hall meetings in various regions of the state.

(f)

In conjunction with the healthcare commission, t
he task force shall issue a report to the governor and the joint labor, health and social services interim committee no later than October 15, 2007 including recommendations for a state plan to promote access to and affordability of health insurance.

(g)

The task force shall be staffed by the governor's office with support from the department of health and the healthcare commission. The task force may contract for administrative and research services to aid in preparation of the task force report. The governor's office shall convene the task force no later than July 15, 2007.

(h)

The task force shall exist until October 15, 2007. Except for legislative members, members of the task force shall not receive a salary but shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel and per diem expenses in the manner and amount provided for state employees under W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
102 and 9
‑
3
‑
103.

Section 2.

For purposes of this act for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2008, there is appropriated one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000.00)
from the general fund
. Of this amount, twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) is appropriated to the legislative service office to fund the salaries, per diem and travel expense of the state legislative members of the task force pursuant to section 1 of this act. The remainder is appropriated to the governor's office to fund the meetings and activities of the task force and to contract with appropriate professionals as necessary to complete the duties assigned to the task force in section 1 of this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0331