A. To study the roles of community hospitals in the 21st century, including services provided, primary care, medical centers, rural hospitals, teaching hospitals, public health, prevention and education services, relationships with other health care providers, physician recruitment, physician training, and continuing care and to evaluate those roles based on the priorities in the State Health Plan;

B. To study the economic impact of hospitals on the state and local economies;

C. To study funding mechanisms and levels, methods of reimbursement, the role of insurance and 3rd-party payors and the effect of unreimbursed care;

D. To study facility and equipment needs, financing options and capital needs;

E. To study opportunities for hospitals to cooperate through:

(1) Adopting common technologies, record sharing systems and quality control techniques;

(2) Purchasing common services, supplies and pharmaceuticals and selecting and servicing equipment;

(3) Recruiting and training staff;

(4) Managing malpractice, workers' compensation, health care and casualty risks; and

(5) Planning, designing and constructing capital improvements;

F. To explore public policy regarding community hospitals, including incentives and barriers to change, access to health care for consumers and the challenges of making transitions to new community roles;

G. To collect and evaluate data regarding statewide hospital expenditures to assess cost efficiencies, cost effectiveness and overall affordability of available health care services while preserving geographic access to care; and