Bill No.: SF0048 Drafter: JWL

LSO No.: 06LSO-0207 Effective Date: 7/1/2006

Enrolled Act No.: SEA0041

Chapter No.: 68

Prime Sponsor: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Catch Title: Health care commission amendments.

Subject: Amendments to membership and duties of Wyoming Healthcare Commission

Summary/Major Elements: The Wyoming Healthcare Commission was created in 2003 to study and report on various healthcare and health insurance issues. This act amends the original enabling legislation to:

· Make the director of the department of health and the insurance commissioner, or their designees, ex officio members of the commission;

· Provide staggered 3-year terms for the commissioners;

· Allow more than one paid staff member for the commission;

· Require reports to the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee semiannually instead of bimonthly;

· Remove a requirement that a subcommittee of the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee meet regularly with the commission;

· Authorize the commission to maintain a healthcare database and to charge a fee for the commission's reports and data;

· Authorize subcommittees of the commission to include non-commission members;

· Direct the commission to study ways to reduce the cost of health insurance and the percentage of people without health insurance;

· Require a study of the redesign of the Medicaid benefit structure to increase cost effectiveness;

· Extend the commission's sunset from 6/30/06 to 6/30/09.

Comments: Reports:

· General reports from commission to LHSS Committee every six months;

· Reports to Joint Labor Interim Committee on uninsured and cost of health insurance by 11/10/06 and 10/1/07;

· Reports to Joint Labor Interim Committee on redesign of Medicaid benefits by 10/1/06 and 10/1/08;

· $2,091,616 from general fund and three positions to the Commission.