Assigned to BI & HEA                                                                                                                FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2286

 

health care system task force

(NOW:  task force; health care system)

 

Purpose

 

Establishes the Statewide Health Care System Task Force to continue the efforts of the Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force.

 

Background

 

In 2000, the Legislature established the Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force to develop an affordable and accessible health care insurance plan for all Arizonans (Laws 2000, Chapter 320).  The Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force held several meetings to: (a) identify and assess potential insurance risk pools; (b) review local, state and national health care plans; (c) review the role of state agencies and political subdivisions under a statewide health care insurance plan; (d) analyze ways to streamline differences between insurance in urban and rural areas; (e) identify various resources to fund a statewide health care insurance plan; and (f) explore alternatives to initiate an available and affordable health care plan for residents in both urban and rural areas.

 

At its final meeting, the Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force adopted two recommendations, one of which was to support legislation modifying healthcare group, a small employer health care insurance program administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration. The other recommendation was to introduce legislation establishing a new task force to examine defined strategies for the implementation of an affordable and accessible statewide health care system. The Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force was repealed on December 31, 2001. H.B. 2286 includes the recommendation to establish the Statewide Health Care System Task Force.

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this measure.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Establishes the 13-member Statewide Health Care System Task Force (Task Force) to continue the efforts of the Statewide Health Care Insurance Plan Task Force.

 

2.      Requires the Task Force to submit a written proposal for implementing the statewide health care system plan, including findings and recommendations, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by November 15 each year.

 

3.      Requires the Task Force to provide a copy of the proposal to the Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

 

4.      Prescribes the membership of the Task Force.

 

5.      Specifies the Task Force members are ineligible for compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

 

6.      Repeals the Task Force on December 31, 2004.

 

7.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

Health              3/18/02            DPA/SE           6-0-0-4

FII                   3/20/02            DP                     8-0-0-2

3rd Read           4/9/02                                    44-10-6-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 12, 2002