Resolve, To Create a Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation for Affordable Health Insurance

Sec. 1. Committee established. Resolved: That the Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation for Affordable Health Insurance, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," is established.

Sec. 2. Committee membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the committee consists of 6 members appointed as follows:

1. One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;

3. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the commissioner's designee;

4. The Superintendent of Insurance, or the superintendent's designee;

5. The Executive Director of the Maine Health Data Organization, or the executive director's designee; and

6. The Executive Director of Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, or the executive director's designee.

The member of the Senate and the member of the House of Representatives appointed under this section must represent different geographical areas of the State.

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee.

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of committee. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the committee to meet and conduct its business.

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall explore providing a more affordable health insurance option to middle-income individuals and small businesses. The committee shall:

1. Contact relevant government representatives in all New England states and inquire as to their interest in working together to create a nonprofit health insurance cooperative. If fewer than 3 states respond with interest, the committee shall reach out to Mid-Atlantic states; and

2. Convene a multistate conference to draft a proposal for a nonprofit health insurance cooperative. The proposal must provide greater affordability to increase access and must contain relevant data to demonstrate the feasibility of that increased access.

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee.

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 1, 2021, the committee shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including the draft proposal under section 5, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.

summary

This resolve establishes the Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation for Affordable Health Insurance, which is required to study providing a more affordable health insurance option to middle-income individuals and small businesses, including convening a multistate conference to draft a proposal for a nonprofit health insurance cooperative.