Resolve, To Study the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Providing Consumers with Consumer Reports on Health Care Services
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0497
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: LaFOUNTAIN, O'NEIL, MAYO, PERRY

Legislative Document 
No. 497 
S.P.169 
In Senate, February 4, 2003 
Resolve, To Study the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Providing 
Consumers with Consumer Reports on Health Care Services 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator LaFOUNTAIN of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative O'NEIL of Saco and 
Senator: MAYO of Sagadahoc, Representative: PERRY of Bangor. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas. Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this 
resolve 
creates 
a 
study 
requires that the commission submit 
a 
report 
legislation by November 2003; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
gO 
days 
after 
commission 
and 
and 
recommended 
Whereas, the 
study must 
be 
initiated before 
the 
gO-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Commission 
to Study Reports for Consumers of Health Care Services, referred 
to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of the following 17 members: 
1. 
Seven members appointed by the President of the Senate 
as follows: 
A. 
One member of the Senate; 
B. 
One representative of a health insurer; 
C. 
One 
representative of 
a 
business with more 
than 
employees; 
D. 
One licensed insurance producer; 
E. 
One representative of a business with fewer than 50 
employees; 
F. 
One person who purchases an individual health insurance 
product; and 
G. 
One representative of a business that is self-insured; 
2. 
Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House as 
follows: 
Page l-LR0437(l) 
A.. 
One member of the House of Representatives; 
B. 
One employee of a hospital; 
C. 
One physician; 
D. 
One pharmacist; 
E. 
One nurse; 
F. 
One person who works in the field of mental health~ and 
G. 
One chiropractor; 
3. 
One 
member 
appointed 
by 
the 
Governor 
who 
is 
a 
representative of an academic or public policy institute with 
expertise in health care economics or finance; 
4. 
The Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner's 
designee; and 
5. 
The Superintendent of Insurance or the superintendent's 
designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Appointments. Resolved: 
That all appointments must be 
made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. 
The Senate 
member 
and 
the House 
of Representatives 
member 
serve 
as 
cochairs 
of 
the 
commission. 
The 
appointing 
authorities 
shall 
notify 
the 
Executive 
Director 
of 
the 
Legislative Council upon making their appointments. 
The cochairs 
shall convene the first meeting of the commission no later than 
days after the appointment of all members is complete; and be 
it further 
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall analyze 
the costs 
and benefits of providing information on both the 
quality and cost of health care to consumers of health care 
services. 
The 
commission 
shall 
also 
draft 
recommended 
legislation on the best method for providing that information to 
consumers. 
The 
commission 
shall 
investigate 
all 
relevant 
questions 
on this issue, 
including, 
but not limited to, 
the 
fOllowing: 
1. 
Whether health insurance costs can be reduced by giving 
consumers better information on health care costs and quality. 
2. 
The best method of providing health care information to 
consumers; and 
3. 
What format for health care information would be most 
likely to be used by consumers; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Meetings and hearings. Resolved: 
That the commission 
may hold as many meetings as necessary to achieve its mission. 
At least 4 of the meetings of the commission must be public 
hearings scheduled during nonbusiness hours and must be held in 
various areas of the State; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the commission shall 
provide its own staff; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Funding. Resolved: 
That the commission may seek and 
accept outside funding to advance its work; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Compensation. Resolved: 
That those members of the 
commission who are Legislators are not entitled to receive the 
legislative per diem as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 
3, 
section 
or 
reimbursement 
for 
travel 
and 
other 
necessary expenses 
related to their attendance at authorized 
meetings of the commission. 
They may receive like reimbursement 
from such nons tate funds as may be available to the commission. 
Other members of the commission who are not otherwise compensated 
by their employers or other entities that they represent are 
entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred 
for their attendance at authorized meetings from such nons tate 
funds as may be available to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Report. Resolved: 
That the commission shall submit 
its 
report, 
together 
with 
any 
recommended 
implementing 
legislation, 
to 
the 
Second 
Regular 
Session 
of 
the 
12lst 
Legislature no later than November 6, 2003. 
The commission may 
also submit such interim reports as it determines necessary. 
Emergency clause. 
In viej,T of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes 
consumers with information on 
services in order to reduce 
encouraging consumers 
to be 
services. 
a 
commission to study providing 
the cost and quality of health care 
the cost of health insurance by 
better purchasers of health care