A. Two members of the House of Representatives. When making the appointments, the Speaker of the House must give preference to a member serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and to a member serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance;

B. A member of a statewide organization representing elderly persons;

C. A member of a statewide organization representing people with disabilities;

D. A member of a statewide organization representing mental health care providers; and

E. A member of a statewide organization representing uninsured health care consumers;

3. Three members appointed by the Governor as follows:

A. A member of a statewide organization representing hospitals;

B. A member of a statewide organization representing physicians; and

C. A member of a statewide organization representing employers who purchase health coverage for employees;

4. The following 2 members shall also serve on the commission:

A. The Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner's designee; and

B. The Chair of the Governor's Year 2000 Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care or the chair's designee; and be it further

Sec. 3. Appointments. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The first named Senate member and the first named House of Representatives member serve as cochairs of the commission. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council upon making their

appointments. The cochairs shall convene the first meeting of the commission no later than 30 days after the appointment of all members is complete; and be it further

Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall investigate the most likely opportunities for the State to expand access to health care to the uninsured, to alleviate the burden of increasing costs on employers and employees and to secure the financing required for the State to meet increasing health care costs. In studying these issues, the commission shall examine:

1. The best ways that the State can prepare for and establish a time line and progressive concrete steps toward the goals of universal access to and coverage for health care;

2. A system of public and private finance that shares costs reasonably among sectors and reflects the ability of individuals, families and businesses to pay without cost barriers to appropriate preventive and acute health care, with resources sufficient to meet rising costs;

3. Global budgets that allow the State to determine a reasonable total amount to spend on health care costs, reasonable targets for infrastructure investments and mechanisms to allocate costs to areas and sectors within the budget and to constrain spending to within budgeted amounts and purposes;

4. The maximization of federal funds to assist the State in meeting health care needs and the reduction of federal barriers, such as Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, to approach a system of universal coverage and participation;

5. The comparison of administrative costs in public and private insurance programs and the savings that could be generated through greater administrative efficiency;

6. Methods to improve and maintain quality of care and consumer choice of providers;

7. A comprehensive benefit package; and

8. The prevention of disease and disability and the improvement of public health.

The commission shall examine programs and techniques that are employed in other states, explore opportunities for expanded federal assistance or demonstrations, waivers or pilot projects, solicit suggestions from groups and individuals with expertise in health care finance and delivery and make recommendations for consideration by the 121st Legislature; and be it further

Sec. 5. Meetings and hearings. Resolved: That the commission may hold 20 meetings. At least 3 of the meetings of the commission must be public hearings, scheduled during nonbusiness hours in several areas of the State, especially in areas with the highest rates of uninsured individuals and lowest per capita incomes.

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide staffing services to the commission. The Department of Human Services shall also provide staffing assistance as requested by the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Funding. Resolved: That the commission may seek and accept outside funding to advance its work; and be it further

Sec. 8. Compensation. Resolved: That those members of the commission who are Legislators are entitled to receive the legislative per diem as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2 and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission. Other members of the commission who are not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings; and be it further

Sec. 9. Report. Resolved: That the commission shall submit its report, together with any recommended implementing legislation, to the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no later than November 1, 2002. The commission may also submit such interim reports as it determines necessary. If the commission requires an extension of time to make its report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension; and be it further

Sec. 10. Budget. Resolved: That the cochairs of the commission, with assistance from the commission's staff, shall administer the commission's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the commission shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for approval. Upon request from the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the commission cochairs and staff with a status report on the commission's budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve establishes the Commission to Develop and Finance Health Care Coverage for All Maine People.