| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. |
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| 4 | 4 | | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. |
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| 5 | 5 | | *sb0493* |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | SENATE BILL 493 |
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| 8 | 8 | | J1 2lr1619 |
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| 9 | 9 | | SB 522/21 – FIN CF 2lr1620 |
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| 10 | 10 | | By: Senators Pinsky, Lam, and Guzzone |
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| 11 | 11 | | Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2022 |
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| 12 | 12 | | Assigned to: Finance |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A BILL ENTITLED |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | AN ACT concerning 1 |
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| 17 | 17 | | |
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| 18 | 18 | | Public Health – Commission on Universal Health Care 2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission on Universal Health Care to develop a 3 |
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| 21 | 21 | | plan for the State to establish a universal health care program to provide health 4 |
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| 22 | 22 | | benefits to all residents of the State through a single–payer system; requiring a 5 |
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| 23 | 23 | | member of the Commission to be subject to ethics laws and disclose certain other 6 |
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| 24 | 24 | | information related to ethics; prohibiting a member of the Commission from being 7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | held personally liable for actions taken as a member under certain circumstances; 8 |
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| 26 | 26 | | and generally relating to the Commission on Universal Health Care. 9 |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | BY adding to 10 |
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| 29 | 29 | | Article – Health – General 11 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Section 13–4401 through 13–4403 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 44. 12 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Commission on Universal Health Care” 13 |
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| 32 | 32 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 14 |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 15 |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | Preamble 16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, § 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) 17 |
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| 38 | 38 | | allows states to request waivers of key provisions of health care reform, including the 18 |
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| 39 | 39 | | requirement to set up a health benefit exchange and provisions relating to premium credits 19 |
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| 40 | 40 | | and reduced cost sharing; and 20 |
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| 41 | 41 | | |
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| 42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Under § 1332 of the ACA, a waiver for state innovation may be granted 21 |
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| 43 | 43 | | if it covers at least as many people as would be covered under the ACA and provides 22 |
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| 44 | 44 | | coverage that is at least as comprehensive and affordable, at no greater cost to the federal 23 |
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| 45 | 45 | | government; and 24 |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | WHEREAS, If an approved waiver does not provide individuals or small businesses 25 |
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| 48 | 48 | | with premium tax credits or cost–sharing reductions, a state may receive the federal 26 2 SENATE BILL 493 |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | funding it would have received for these purposes to help implement its approved plan; and 1 |
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| 52 | 52 | | |
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| 53 | 53 | | WHEREAS, Extensive work has been done in other states, including New York, 2 |
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| 54 | 54 | | Washington, and Maine, developing plans and legislation for state–based universal health 3 |
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| 55 | 55 | | care, including funding mechanisms and financial analyses; and 4 |
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| 56 | 56 | | |
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| 57 | 57 | | WHEREAS, Multiple jurisdictions in Maryland, including Prince George’s County, 5 |
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| 58 | 58 | | Montgomery County, and Annapolis, have passed resolutions supporting universal health 6 |
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| 59 | 59 | | care, some of which specifically mention the creation of a Maryland Commission on 7 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Universal Health Care; and 8 |
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| 61 | 61 | | |
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| 62 | 62 | | WHEREAS, Maryland should seek to establish a health care program to contain 9 |
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| 63 | 63 | | costs and to provide comprehensive, affordable, and high–quality publicly financed health 10 |
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| 64 | 64 | | care coverage for all Maryland residents in a seamless manner regardless of income, assets, 11 |
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| 65 | 65 | | health status, or availability of other health care coverage; now, therefore, 12 |
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| 66 | 66 | | |
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| 67 | 67 | | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13 |
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| 68 | 68 | | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 |
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| 69 | 69 | | |
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| 70 | 70 | | Article – Health – General 15 |
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| 71 | 71 | | |
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| 72 | 72 | | SUBTITLE 44. COMMISSION ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. 16 |
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| 73 | 73 | | |
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| 74 | 74 | | 13–4401. 17 |
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| 75 | 75 | | |
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| 76 | 76 | | (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FO LLOWING WORDS HAVE T HE MEANINGS 18 |
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| 77 | 77 | | INDICATED. 19 |
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| 78 | 78 | | |
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| 79 | 79 | | (B) “AFFILIATION” MEANS: 20 |
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| 80 | 80 | | |
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| 81 | 81 | | (1) A FINANCIAL INTEREST ; 21 |
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| 82 | 82 | | |
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| 83 | 83 | | (2) A POSITION OF GOVERNAN CE, INCLUDING MEMBERSHIP ON A 22 |
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| 84 | 84 | | BOARD OF DIRECTORS , REGARDLESS OF COMPEN SATION; 23 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | (3) A RELATIONSHIP THROUGH WHICH COMPENSATION I S RECEIVED; 24 |
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| 87 | 87 | | OR 25 |
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| 88 | 88 | | |
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| 89 | 89 | | (4) A RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE S AS A 26 |
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| 90 | 90 | | REGULATED LOBBYIST . 27 |
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| 91 | 91 | | |
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| 92 | 92 | | (C) “COMMISSION” MEANS THE COMMISSION ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH 28 |
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| 93 | 93 | | CARE ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 13–4402 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 29 |
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| 94 | 94 | | |
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| 95 | 95 | | (D) “COMPENSATION ” HAS THE MEA NING STATED IN § 5–101 OF THE 30 SENATE BILL 493 3 |
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| 96 | 96 | | |
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| 97 | 97 | | |
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| 98 | 98 | | GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 1 |
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| 99 | 99 | | |
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| 100 | 100 | | (E) (1) “EXCHANGE” MEANS THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT 2 |
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| 101 | 101 | | EXCHANGE, ESTABLISHED AS A PUB LIC CORPORATION UNDE R § 31–102 OF THE 3 |
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| 102 | 102 | | INSURANCE ARTICLE. 4 |
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| 103 | 103 | | |
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| 104 | 104 | | (2) “EXCHANGE” INCLUDES: 5 |
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| 105 | 105 | | |
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| 106 | 106 | | (I) THE INDIVIDUAL EXCHANGE; AND 6 |
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| 107 | 107 | | |
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| 108 | 108 | | (II) THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH OPTIONS PROGRAM 7 |
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| 109 | 109 | | (SHOP EXCHANGE). 8 |
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| 110 | 110 | | |
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| 111 | 111 | | (F) “FINANCIAL INTEREST ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9 |
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| 112 | 112 | | 5–101 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 10 |
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| 113 | 113 | | |
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| 114 | 114 | | (G) “REGULATED LOBBYIST ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 11 |
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| 115 | 115 | | 5–101 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 12 |
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| 116 | 116 | | |
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| 117 | 117 | | 13–4402. 13 |
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| 118 | 118 | | |
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| 119 | 119 | | (A) THERE IS A COMMISSION ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. 14 |
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| 120 | 120 | | |
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| 121 | 121 | | (B) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS: 15 |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | (1) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE, AS AN EX 16 |
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| 124 | 124 | | OFFICIO MEMBER OF TH E COMMISSION; 17 |
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| 125 | 125 | | |
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| 126 | 126 | | (2) FOUR MEMBERS A PPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH THE 18 |
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| 127 | 127 | | ADVICE AND CONSENT O F THE SENATE; 19 |
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| 128 | 128 | | |
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| 129 | 129 | | (3) THREE MEMBERS APPOINT ED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE 20 |
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| 130 | 130 | | SENATE; AND 21 |
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| 131 | 131 | | |
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| 132 | 132 | | (4) THREE MEMBERS APPOINT ED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. 22 |
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| 133 | 133 | | |
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| 134 | 134 | | (C) FROM AMONG ITS MEMBER S, THE COMMISSION SHALL ELEC T A CHAIR 23 |
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| 135 | 135 | | AND VICE CHAIR. 24 |
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| 136 | 136 | | |
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| 137 | 137 | | (D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 25 |
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| 138 | 138 | | |
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| 139 | 139 | | (E) IN APPOINTING MEMBERS UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , 26 |
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| 140 | 140 | | THE APPOINTING AUTHO RITY SHALL: 27 4 SENATE BILL 493 |
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| 141 | 141 | | |
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| 142 | 142 | | |
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| 143 | 143 | | |
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| 144 | 144 | | (1) ENSURE THAT THE APPOI NTEE HAS DEMONSTRATE D AND 1 |
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| 145 | 145 | | ACKNOWLEDGED EXPERTI SE IN HEALTH CARE ; 2 |
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| 146 | 146 | | |
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| 147 | 147 | | (2) CONSIDER THE EXPERTIS E OF THE OTHER MEMBE RS OF THE 3 |
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| 148 | 148 | | COMMISSION AND ATTEMP T TO MAKE APPOINTMEN TS SO THAT THE COMMISSION’S 4 |
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| 149 | 149 | | COMPOSITION REFLECTS A DIVERSITY OF EXPER TISE IN VARIOUS ASPE CTS OF 5 |
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| 150 | 150 | | HEALTH CARE ; AND 6 |
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| 151 | 151 | | |
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| 152 | 152 | | (3) CONSIDER THE CULTURAL, ETHNIC, AND GEOGRAPHICAL 7 |
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| 153 | 153 | | DIVERSITY OF THE STATE SO THAT THE COMMISSION’S COMPOSITION REFLEC TS 8 |
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| 154 | 154 | | THE COMMUNITIES OF T HE STATE. 9 |
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| 155 | 155 | | |
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| 156 | 156 | | (F) (1) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, WITHIN THE 2–YEAR PERIOD 10 |
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| 157 | 157 | | IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G THE MEMBER ’S APPOINTMENT AND WH ILE SERVING ON 11 |
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| 158 | 158 | | THE COMMISSION, MAY NOT BE EMPLOYED , OR HAVE BEEN EMPLOYE D, IN ANY 12 |
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| 159 | 159 | | CAPACITY BY A CONSUL TANT TO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTO RS OF OR 13 |
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| 160 | 160 | | OTHERWISE BE A REPRE SENTATIVE OF: 14 |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | (I) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ; 15 |
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| 163 | 163 | | |
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| 164 | 164 | | (II) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY ; 16 |
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| 165 | 165 | | |
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| 166 | 166 | | (III) A HEALTH CLINIC ; 17 |
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| 167 | 167 | | |
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| 168 | 168 | | (IV) A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPA NY; 18 |
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| 169 | 169 | | |
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| 170 | 170 | | (V) A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CO MPANY; OR 19 |
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| 171 | 171 | | |
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| 172 | 172 | | (VI) A CARRIER, AN INSURANCE PRODUCE R, A THIRD–PARTY 20 |
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| 173 | 173 | | ADMINISTRATOR , A MANAGED CARE ORGAN IZATION, OR ANY OTHER PERSON 21 |
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| 174 | 174 | | CONTRACTING DIRECTLY WITH THOSE PERSONS . 22 |
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| 175 | 175 | | |
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| 176 | 176 | | (2) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY NOT BE A MEMBER, A BOARD 23 |
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| 177 | 177 | | MEMBER, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF A TRADE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE FACILITI ES, 24 |
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| 178 | 178 | | HEALTH CLINICS , HEALTH CARE PROVIDER S, CARRIERS, INSURANCE PRODUCERS , 25 |
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| 179 | 179 | | THIRD–PARTY ADMINISTRATORS , MANAGED CARE ORGANIZ ATIONS, OR ANY OTHER 26 |
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| 180 | 180 | | ASSOCIATION OF ENTIT IES IN A POSITION TO CONTRACT DIRECTLY WI TH THE 27 |
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| 181 | 181 | | COMMISSION UNLESS THE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION: 28 |
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| 182 | 182 | | |
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| 183 | 183 | | (I) RECEIVES NO COMPENSAT ION FOR RENDERING SE RVICES 29 |
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| 184 | 184 | | AS A HEALTH CARE PRO VIDER; AND 30 |
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| 185 | 185 | | SENATE BILL 493 5 |
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| 186 | 186 | | |
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| 187 | 187 | | |
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| 188 | 188 | | (II) DOES NOT HAVE AN OWNE RSHIP INTEREST IN A HEALTH 1 |
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| 189 | 189 | | CARE PRACTICE . 2 |
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| 190 | 190 | | |
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| 191 | 191 | | (3) THE PROVISIONS IN THI S SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED 3 |
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| 192 | 192 | | TO PROHIBIT A PHYSICIAN OR NURSE W HO DOES NOT SERVE AS A MEMBER OF A 4 |
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| 193 | 193 | | BOARD OF DIRECTORS F OR AN ENTITY LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 5 |
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| 194 | 194 | | SUBSECTION FROM SERV ING AS A MEMBER OF T HE COMMISSION. 6 |
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| 195 | 195 | | |
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| 196 | 196 | | (G) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETE RMINE THE TIMES , PLACES, AND 7 |
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| 197 | 197 | | FREQUENCY OF ITS MEE TINGS. 8 |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | (2) FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION CONSTITUTE A QUORUM . 9 |
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| 200 | 200 | | |
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| 201 | 201 | | (3) ACTION BY THE COMMISSION REQUIRES T HE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE 10 |
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| 202 | 202 | | OF AT LEAST FIVE MEM BERS. 11 |
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| 203 | 203 | | |
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| 204 | 204 | | (H) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION: 12 |
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| 205 | 205 | | |
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| 206 | 206 | | (1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 13 |
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| 207 | 207 | | COMMISSION; BUT 14 |
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| 208 | 208 | | |
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| 209 | 209 | | (2) IS ENTITLED TO: 15 |
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| 210 | 210 | | |
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| 211 | 211 | | (I) A PER DIEM RATE AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR 16 |
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| 212 | 212 | | ATTENDING SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION; AND 17 |
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| 213 | 213 | | |
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| 214 | 214 | | (II) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXP ENSES UNDER THE STANDARD 18 |
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| 215 | 215 | | STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 19 |
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| 216 | 216 | | |
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| 217 | 217 | | (I) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL PERF ORM THE MEMBER ’S 20 |
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| 218 | 218 | | DUTIES: 21 |
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| 219 | 219 | | |
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| 220 | 220 | | (1) IN GOOD FAITH; 22 |
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| 221 | 221 | | |
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| 222 | 222 | | (2) IN THE MANNER THE MEM BER REASONABLY BELIE VES TO BE IN 23 |
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| 223 | 223 | | THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE; AND 24 |
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| 224 | 224 | | |
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| 225 | 225 | | (3) WITHOUT INTENTIONAL O R RECKLESS DISREGARD OF THE CARE 25 |
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| 226 | 226 | | AN ORDINARILY PRUDEN T PERSON IN A LIKE P OSITION WOULD EX ERCISE UNDER 26 |
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| 227 | 227 | | SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE S. 27 |
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| 228 | 228 | | |
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| 229 | 229 | | (J) (1) (I) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE S UBJECT TO 28 |
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| 230 | 230 | | TITLE 5, SUBTITLES 1 THROUGH 7 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 29 6 SENATE BILL 493 |
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| 231 | 231 | | |
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| 232 | 232 | | |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | (II) IN ADDITION TO THE DI SCLOSURE REQUIRED UN DER TITLE 1 |
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| 235 | 235 | | 5, SUBTITLE 6 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE, A MEMBER OF THE 2 |
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| 236 | 236 | | COMMISSION SHALL DISC LOSE TO THE COMMISSION AND TO THE PUBLIC ANY 3 |
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| 237 | 237 | | RELATIONSHIP NOT ADD RESSED IN THE REQUIR ED FINANCIAL DISCLOS URE THAT 4 |
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| 238 | 238 | | THE MEMBER HAS WITH A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER, A HEALTH CLINIC , A 5 |
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| 239 | 239 | | PHARMACEUTICAL COMPA NY, A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CO MPANY, A CARRIER, AN 6 |
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| 240 | 240 | | INSURANCE PRODUCER , A THIRD–PARTY ADMINISTRATOR , A MANAGED CARE 7 |
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| 241 | 241 | | ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN AN INDUSTRY INVOL VED IN MATTERS 8 |
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| 242 | 242 | | LIKELY TO COME BEFOR E THE COMMISSION. 9 |
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| 243 | 243 | | |
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| 244 | 244 | | (2) ON ALL MATTERS THAT C OME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE 10 |
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| 245 | 245 | | MEMBER SHALL : 11 |
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| 246 | 246 | | |
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| 247 | 247 | | (I) ADHERE STRICTLY TO TH E CONFLICT OF INTERE ST 12 |
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| 248 | 248 | | PROVISIONS UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 5 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 13 |
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| 249 | 249 | | RELATING TO RESTRICT IONS ON PARTICIPATIO N, EMPLOYMENT , AND FINANCIAL 14 |
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| 250 | 250 | | INTERESTS; AND 15 |
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| 251 | 251 | | |
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| 252 | 252 | | (II) PROVIDE FULL DISCLOSU RE TO THE COMMISSION AND THE 16 |
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| 253 | 253 | | PUBLIC ON: 17 |
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| 254 | 254 | | |
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| 255 | 255 | | 1. ANY MATTER THAT GIVES RISE TO A POTENTIAL 18 |
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| 256 | 256 | | CONFLICT OF INTEREST ; AND 19 |
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| 257 | 257 | | |
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| 258 | 258 | | 2. THE MANNER IN WHICH T HE MEMBER WILL COMPL Y 20 |
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| 259 | 259 | | WITH THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 5 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS 21 |
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| 260 | 260 | | ARTICLE TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR APPEARANCE OF A C ONFLICT 22 |
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| 261 | 261 | | OF INTEREST. 23 |
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| 262 | 262 | | |
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| 263 | 263 | | (K) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION WHO PERFOR MS THE MEMBER ’S 24 |
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| 264 | 264 | | DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD ES TABLISHED UNDER SUBS ECTION 25 |
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| 265 | 265 | | (I) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE PERSONALLY LI ABLE FOR ACTIONS TAK EN AS A 26 |
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| 266 | 266 | | MEMBER IF DONE IN GO OD FAITH, WITHOUT INTENT TO DE FRAUD, AND IN 27 |
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| 267 | 267 | | CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION , MANAGEMENT , OR CONDUCT RELATED 28 |
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| 268 | 268 | | TO THIS SUBTITLE. 29 |
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| 269 | 269 | | |
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| 270 | 270 | | (L) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY BE REM OVED FOR 30 |
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| 271 | 271 | | INCOMPETENCE , MISCONDUCT , OR FAILURE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE 31 |
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| 272 | 272 | | POSITION. 32 |
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| 273 | 273 | | |
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| 274 | 274 | | 13–4403. 33 |
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| 275 | 275 | | SENATE BILL 493 7 |
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| 276 | 276 | | |
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| 277 | 277 | | |
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| 278 | 278 | | (A) THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVE LOP A PLAN FOR THE STATE TO 1 |
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| 279 | 279 | | ESTABLISH, ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, A UNIVERSAL HEALTH C ARE PROGRAM TO 2 |
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| 280 | 280 | | PROVIDE HEALTH BENEF ITS TO ALL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE THROUGH A 3 |
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| 281 | 281 | | SINGLE–PAYER SYSTEM . 4 |
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| 282 | 282 | | |
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| 283 | 283 | | (B) THE COMMISSION SHALL CONS IDER HOW TO: 5 |
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| 284 | 284 | | |
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| 285 | 285 | | (1) INCORPORATE HEALTH CA RE EQUITY AS A GOAL OF THE PLA N; 6 |
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| 286 | 286 | | |
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| 287 | 287 | | (2) REDUCE HEALTH CARE DI SPARITIES; AND 7 |
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| 288 | 288 | | |
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| 289 | 289 | | (3) INCREASE HEALTH CARE ACCESS , PARTICULARLY IN URBA N AND 8 |
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| 290 | 290 | | RURAL SETTINGS WITH LIMITED ACCESS. 9 |
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| 291 | 291 | | |
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| 292 | 292 | | (C) IN DEVELOPING THE PLA N, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONS IDER PLANS 10 |
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| 293 | 293 | | AND ANALYSES DONE IN OTHER STATES . 11 |
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| 294 | 294 | | |
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| 295 | 295 | | (D) THE HEALTH CARE PROGR AM SHALL BE DESIGNED TO: 12 |
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| 296 | 296 | | |
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| 297 | 297 | | (1) PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE , AFFORDABLE , AND HIGH–QUALITY 13 |
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| 298 | 298 | | PUBLICLY FINANCED HE ALTH CARE COVERAGE F OR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE 14 |
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| 299 | 299 | | IN A SEAMLESS AND EQ UITABLE MANNER , REGARDLESS OF INCOME , ASSETS, 15 |
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| 300 | 300 | | HEALTH STATUS , CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIG RATION STATUS , OR AVAILABILITY OF 16 |
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| 301 | 301 | | OTHER HEALTH CARE CO VERAGE; 17 |
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| 302 | 302 | | |
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| 303 | 303 | | (2) INCLUDE A BENEFIT PAC KAGE COVERING PRIMAR Y CARE, 18 |
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| 304 | 304 | | PREVENTIVE CARE , CHRONIC CARE , ACUTE EPISODIC CARE , REPRODUCTIVE CARE , 19 |
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| 305 | 305 | | INCLUDING PREGNANCY , BIRTH CONTROL , AND ABORTION SERVICE S, AND 20 |
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| 306 | 306 | | HOSPITAL SERVICES ; 21 |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | (3) RECOMMEND HOW, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT A LLOWABLE 22 |
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| 309 | 309 | | UNDER FEDERAL LAW AN D WAIVERS FROM FEDER AL LAW, TO: 23 |
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| 310 | 310 | | |
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| 311 | 311 | | (I) ENSURE THAT ALL FEDER AL PAYMENTS PROVIDED IN THE 24 |
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| 312 | 312 | | STATE FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE PAID DI RECTLY TO THE HEALTH CARE 25 |
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| 313 | 313 | | PROGRAM; AND 26 |
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| 314 | 314 | | |
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| 315 | 315 | | (II) ASSUME RESPONSIBILIT Y FOR THE BENEFITS A ND 27 |
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| 316 | 316 | | SERVICES CURRENTLY P AID FOR AND PROVIDED UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL 28 |
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| 317 | 317 | | PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE EXCHANGE, MEDICAID, AND MEDICARE; 29 |
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| 318 | 318 | | |
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| 319 | 319 | | (4) INCLUDE HEALTH CARE C OVERAGE PROVIDED : 30 |
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| 320 | 320 | | 8 SENATE BILL 493 |
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| 321 | 321 | | |
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| 322 | 322 | | |
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| 323 | 323 | | (I) BY EMPLOYERS THAT CHO OSE TO PARTICIPATE ; AND 1 |
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| 324 | 324 | | |
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| 325 | 325 | | (II) TO STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOY EES; AND 2 |
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| 326 | 326 | | |
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| 327 | 327 | | (5) CONTAIN COSTS BY : 3 |
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| 328 | 328 | | |
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| 329 | 329 | | (I) PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO RESIDENTS TO AVOI D 4 |
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| 330 | 330 | | PREVENTABLE HEALTH C ONDITIONS, PROMOTE HEALTH , AND AVOID UNNECESSAR Y 5 |
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| 331 | 331 | | EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT S; 6 |
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| 332 | 332 | | |
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| 333 | 333 | | (II) ESTABLISHING INNOVATI VE PAYMENT ME CHANISMS TO 7 |
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| 334 | 334 | | HEALTH CARE PROFESSI ONALS, SUCH AS GLOBAL PAYME NTS; AND 8 |
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| 335 | 335 | | |
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| 336 | 336 | | (III) REDUCING UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE 9 |
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| 337 | 337 | | EXPENDITURES . 10 |
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| 338 | 338 | | |
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| 339 | 339 | | (E) THE PLAN SHALL INCLUD E: 11 |
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| 340 | 340 | | |
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| 341 | 341 | | (1) A TIMELINE FOR THE EST ABLISHMENT OF THE HE ALTH CARE 12 |
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| 342 | 342 | | PROGRAM; 13 |
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| 343 | 343 | | |
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| 344 | 344 | | (2) PLANS FOR TRANSITION TO THE HEALTH CARE P ROGRAM, 14 |
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| 345 | 345 | | INCLUDING: 15 |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | (I) SUSPENDING OPERATIONS OF THE EXCHANGE TO ENABLE 16 |
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| 348 | 348 | | THE STATE TO RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION IN LIEU 17 |
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| 349 | 349 | | OF THE FEDERAL PREMI UM TAX CREDITS , COST–SHARING SUBSIDIES , AND SMALL 18 |
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| 350 | 350 | | BUSINESS TAX CREDITS PROVIDED IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; 19 |
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| 351 | 351 | | |
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| 352 | 352 | | (II) HOW TO FULLY INTEGRAT E OR ALIGN MEDICAID, 20 |
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| 353 | 353 | | MEDICARE, PRIVATE INSURANCE , AND STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL 21 |
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| 354 | 354 | | EMPLOYEES INTO OR WI TH THE HEALTH CARE P ROGRAM; AND 22 |
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| 355 | 355 | | |
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| 356 | 356 | | (III) A PLAN FOR TRANSITIO NING WORKERS DISPLAC ED BY 23 |
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| 357 | 357 | | CHANGES TO THE HEALT H CARE SYSTEM ; 24 |
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| 358 | 358 | | |
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| 359 | 359 | | (3) A PROPOSED OPERATING S TRUCTURE FOR THE HEA LTH CARE 25 |
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| 360 | 360 | | PROGRAM; 26 |
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| 361 | 361 | | |
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| 362 | 362 | | (4) COST PROJECTIONS FOR THE HEALTH CARE PROG RAM AND 27 |
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| 363 | 363 | | RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AMOUNTS AND MECH ANISMS NECESSARY TO FINANCE 28 |
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| 364 | 364 | | THE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM ; 29 |
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| 365 | 365 | | SENATE BILL 493 9 |
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| 366 | 366 | | |
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| 367 | 367 | | |
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| 368 | 368 | | (5) (I) A PROPOSED HEALTH BENE FIT PACKAGE TO BE OF FERED IN 1 |
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| 369 | 369 | | THE HEALTH CARE PROG RAM; AND 2 |
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| 370 | 370 | | |
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| 371 | 371 | | (II) AN ANALYSIS OF WHETHE R THE HEALTH CARE PR OGRAM 3 |
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| 372 | 372 | | SHOULD INCLUDE DENTA L, VISION, HEARING, AND LONG–TERM CARE BENEFITS ; 4 |
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| 373 | 373 | | AND 5 |
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| 374 | 374 | | |
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| 375 | 375 | | (6) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISL ATION REQUIRED TO ES TABLISH 6 |
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| 376 | 376 | | THE HEALTH CARE PROG RAM. 7 |
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| 377 | 377 | | |
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| 378 | 378 | | (F) THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBM IT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 8 |
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| 379 | 379 | | ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE SENATE 9 |
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| 380 | 380 | | FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 10 |
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| 381 | 381 | | COMMITTEE: 11 |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
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| 383 | 383 | | (1) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2023, AN INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT ON 12 |
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| 384 | 384 | | THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN TO ESTABLISH TH E HEALTH CARE PROGRA M; AND 13 |
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| 385 | 385 | | |
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| 386 | 386 | | (2) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2024, THE PLAN TO ESTABLIS H THE 14 |
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| 387 | 387 | | HEALTH CARE PROGRAM . 15 |
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| 388 | 388 | | |
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| 389 | 389 | | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 16 |
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| 390 | 390 | | 1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 17 |
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| 391 | 391 | | 30, 2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 18 |
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| 392 | 392 | | abrogated and of no further force and effect. 19 |
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| 393 | 393 | | |
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| 394 | 394 | | |
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