House Bill 1289

AN ACT TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF MEDICAID AND HEALTH CARE IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION; TO SPECIFY THE MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH TOPICS AND MATTERS FOR THE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON, WITH THE GOAL OF ENSURING ACCESS, INCREASING QUALITY AND CONTROLLING COSTS OF THE MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS; TO PROVIDE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT ITS INITIAL REPORT WITH A DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR NOT LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1, 2015; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL CONTINUE IN EXISTENCE AND SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ANNUALLY NOT LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1 OF THE YEAR; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 41-95-1 THROUGH 41-95-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI HEALTH POLICY ACT OF 1994; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Commission on the Future of Medicaid and Health Care in Mississippi. The commission shall be composed of the following nineteen (19) members:

(a) The Governor or his designee;

(b) The Speaker of the House or his designee;

(d) The Chairman of House Medicaid Committee or his designee;

(e) The Chairman of House Public Health and Human Services Committee or his designee;

(f) The Chairman of Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee or his designee;

(g) The Vice Chairman of Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee or his designee;

(h) The Chairman of House Appropriations Committee or his designee;

(i) The Chairman of Senate Appropriations Committee or his designee;

(j) The Chairman of the House Insurance Committee or his designee;

(k) The Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee or his designee;

(l) The Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

(m) The Insurance Commissioner or his designee;

(n) The Director of the Office of Insurance of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee;

(o) The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid or his designee;

(p) The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services or his designee;

(q) The State Health Officer or her designee;

(r) The Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services or his designee; and

(s) The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health or his designee.

(2) With the goal of ensuring access, increasing quality and controlling costs of the Medicaid and other health programs, the commission shall meet, study and make recommendations on the following:

(a) Assessment of quality of care indicators and return on investment of the current Medicaid program, including, but not limited to, hospital readmissions, chronic disease management and overuse of emergency room for nonemergency conditions;

(b) Examination of the state's current use of managed care, including its effect on cost, access and health outcomes, in the Medicaid program and whether increased use of managed care is needed;

(d) Potential innovative payment and delivery models for Medicaid and other insurance plans, including, but not limited to, accountable care organizations, bundled payments and patient-centered medical homes;

(e) Whether the state should continue having a federally-run health insurance exchange or opt for a state-run health insurance exchange;

(f) Future of the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan;

(g) Coordinating effort and resources among the various health care providers, including, but not limited to, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), hospitals, health department offices and other private primary care clinics;

(h) Establishment of a statewide strategic plan for health and health care;

(i) Increasing capacity for primary care in the State of Mississippi; and

(j) Assisting health care providers in the transition to post-health care reform policies and payment methodologies.

(3) The commission shall meet monthly and shall have its first meeting no later than July 1, 2014. At that first meeting, the commission shall elect from among its membership a chairman and other officers, if any, determined to be necessary. A majority of the membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the commission shall be required for all actions taken. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the commission is scheduled.

(4) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

(5) The state agencies represented on the commission shall provide appropriate staff support to assist the commission in carrying out its duties, and the commission may consult with employees of any state agency necessary to accomplish its responsibilities.

(6) The commission is authorized and encouraged to create subcommittees and working groups whose membership includes noncommission members such as physicians and other health care providers, and representatives of hospitals, associations, advocacy groups and consumers.

(7) The commission shall prepare and submit its initial report that contains a detailed statement of findings, conclusions and recommendations of the commission to the Legislature and the Governor not later than September 1, 2015. After the initial report, the commission shall continue in existence and shall prepare and submit a follow-up report to the Legislature and the Governor annually not later than September 1 of the year.

SECTION 2. Sections 41-95-1, 41-95-3, 41-95-5 and 41-95-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, which create the Mississippi Health Policy Act of 1994, are repealed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.