Universal health insurance.

WORKING DRAFT
2008
STATE OF
WYOMING
08LSO-0004

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0093

Universal health insurance.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Esquibel, F.

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public health and insurance; providing for
Wyoming
health care commission to solicit and review proposals for expanded health insurance coverage as specified; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

(a)

The
Wyoming
health care commission, in consultation with the insurance commissioner, shall develop and issue a request for proposals for the following two
(2)
models of universal health insurance:

(i)

Task 1. The contractor shall model proposals for universal health
insurance
that reflect publicly sponsored coverage
s
that rely on broad based public-financing. The proposals shall include a public pay
o
r model of health insurance as well as models which rel
y on publicly financed insurance
delivered through private sector insurers or a combination of public pay
o
r and private insurers. Analysis of these proposals shall include estimates of:

(A)

Cost of the proposal and how that cost is distributed among government, employers and consumers;

(B)

The extent to which the proposal advances the goal of universal
health insurance
and reduces barriers to coverage;

(C)

The impact of the proposal on the business community including small business, self
-
employed individuals and sole proprietors. This should include an assessment of the impact of the proposal on employment as well as on collective bargaining agreements;

(D)

The impact of the proposal on the provider community;

(E)

The impact of the proposal on the general scope of benefits, quality of care provided and consumer choice of provider.

(ii)

Task 2: The contractor shall model proposals for universal health
insurance
that reflect a mixture of expanded public health insurance programs, partially subsidized insurance and employer based
insurance
. Analysis of these proposals shall include estimates of:

(A)

The cost of the proposal and how that cost is distributed among government, employers and consumers;

(B)

The extent to which the proposal advances the goal of universal
health insurance
and reduces barriers to coverage;

(C)

The impact of the proposal on the business community including small business, self
-
employed individuals and sole proprietors. This should include an assessment of the impact of the proposal on employment as well as on collective bargaining agreements;

(D)

The impact of the proposal on the provider community;

(E)

The impact of the proposal on general scope of benefits, quality of care provided and consumer choice of provider.

(b)

The commission shall review the proposals and submit its report and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by October 1, 2008.

(c)

In reviewing proposals and making its recommendation, the commission shall consider the extent to which the proposals:

(i)

Rapidly provide universal health
insurance
to the citizens of the state;

(ii)

C
ontrol the cost of health insurance and health care;

(iii)

Fairly and equitably distribute the cost of health insurance and health care;

(iv)

Improve the state’s economy and the competitiveness of the state’s businesses;

(v)

Promote the economic viability of health care providers.

(d)

Each universal health insurance proposal shall include a provision that the insurance provided shall be mandatory for all otherwise uninsured residents of the state and a mechanism for identifying and validating the health insurance coverage of all other residents.

(e)

The commission shall be authorized to hire a consultant or consultants as necessary for purposes of preparing the request for proposals, reviewing proposals and preparing the commission's final report and recommendations.

Section 2.

There is appropriated two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the general fund to the
Wyoming
healthcare commission. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2010. This appropriation shall only be expended for the purpose of conducting the request for proposals and submitting the report required by section 1 of this act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on July 1, 2010. This appropriation shall not be included in the commission's 2011-2012 standard biennial budget request.

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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HB0093