1.1    .................... moves to amend H. F. No. 297, the delete everything amendment
1.2(A07-0645), as follows:
1.3Page 208, after line 8, insert:

1.4    "Sec. 55. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
1.5    The legislature finds that:
1.6    (1) health plan purchasing pools reduce health care costs, improve access to health
1.7care, allow greater choice, and provide continuity of care;
1.8    (2) large health plan purchasing pools can realize economies of scale, thereby
1.9lowering administrative and operating costs; their significant market presence allows them
1.10to negotiate more effectively to obtain comprehensive coverage at competitive rates; and
1.11their size makes it easier to attract and retain enrollees; and
1.12    (3) the creation of a large health care purchasing pool that is a public entity and that
1.13offers direct contracting with providers has a greater capacity to serve the public interest
1.14than other forms of organization.
1.15    The legislature further finds that the creation of a large statewide health plan
1.16purchasing pool is an economical and efficient tool to address the state's current health
1.17care accessibility and affordability concerns.

1.18    Sec. 56. HEALTH PLAN PURCHASING POOL STUDY GROUP.
1.19    Subdivision 1. Creation; membership. (a) A health plan purchasing pool study
1.20group is created to study and make recommendations regarding the creation of a voluntary,
1.21statewide health plan purchasing pool that would contract directly with providers to
1.22provide affordable health coverage to eligible Minnesota residents. The study group is
1.23composed of:
1.24    (1) three members of the senate appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of
1.25the Committee on Rules and Administration, including one member of the minority;
2.1    (2) three members of the house of representatives, two from the majority party
2.2appointed by the speaker of the house, and one from the minority party appointed by the
2.3minority leader of the house of representatives;
2.4    (3) the attorney general or the attorney general's designated representative;
2.5    (4) three representatives of health care providers appointed as follows:
2.6    (i) one member appointed by the governor;
2.7    (ii) one member appointed by the speaker of the house; and
2.8    (iii) one member appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the senate
2.9Committee on Rules and Administration;
2.10    (5) one member selected by the American Federation of State, County, and
2.11Municipal employees;
2.12    (6) one member selected by the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees;
2.13    (7) one member selected by Education Minnesota;
2.14    (8) one member selected by the Minnesota Business Partnership; and
2.15    (9) one member selected by the Metropolitan Interdependent Business Organization.
2.16All appointments to be made under this subdivision must be made within 30 days of the
2.17effective date of this act.
2.18    (b) The attorney general or the attorney general's designee shall convene the first
2.19meeting of the study group. The study group shall select its chair at the first meeting.
2.20    Subd. 2. Study; report. The study group shall study and make recommendations
2.21on the following issues related to the creation, maintenance, and funding of a voluntary,
2.22statewide health plan purchasing pool to provide comprehensive, cost-effective, and
2.23medically appropriate health coverage to all public and private employees in Minnesota
2.24and all Minnesota residents:
2.25    (1) the creation of an independent public entity to administer the pool;
2.26    (2) eligibility and participation requirements for existing public and private health
2.27care purchasing pools, public and private employers, and residents of this state;
2.28    (3) how to contract directly with providers to provide comprehensive coverage for
2.29preventive, mental health, dental and other medical services, and comprehensive drug
2.30benefits to enrollees and maximize the cost savings and other efficiencies that a large
2.31purchasing pool would be expected to generate without the need for a public subsidy;
2.32    (4) provisions that allow the pool to contract directly with health care providers
2.33to provide coverage to enrollees;
2.34    (5) incentives designed to attract and retain the maximum number of enrollees;
3.1    (6) recommendations for the administration of the pool and the plans that will be
3.2available to enrollees including, but not limited to, recommendations to keep the pool
3.3solvent and profitable so that public subsidies are not necessary; and
3.4    (7) other elements the study group concludes are necessary or desirable for the
3.5pool to possess.
3.6    The study group shall submit its report and the draft legislation necessary to
3.7implement its recommendations to the chairs of the legislative committees and divisions
3.8with jurisdiction over health care policy and finance, the Health Care Access Commission,
3.9and the governor by February 1, 2008.
3.10    Subd. 3. Staffing. State agencies shall assist the study group with any requests for
3.11information the study group considers necessary to complete the study and report under
3.12subdivision 2.
3.13    Subd. 4. Removal; vacancies; expenses. Removal of members, vacancies, and
3.14expenses for members shall be as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.
3.15    Subd. 5. Expiration. This section expires after the submission of the report as
3.16required in subdivision 2.
3.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment."
3.18Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
3.19Amend the title accordingly