1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             directing the Minnesota health care commission to 
  1.3             establish a task force to study health care taxes and 
  1.4             to contract for health care studies. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [STUDY OF HEALTH CARE ASSESSMENTS.] 
  1.7      (a) The Minnesota health care commission shall establish a 
  1.8   task force to study and make recommendations for alternative 
  1.9   funding mechanisms for the following health care taxes, 
  1.10  surcharges, and assessments:  
  1.11     (1) the one percent premium tax imposed under Minnesota 
  1.12  Statutes, section 60A.15, subdivision 1, paragraph (d); 
  1.13     (2) the Minnesota comprehensive health association 
  1.14  assessment under Minnesota Statutes, section 62E.11; 
  1.15     (3) the health maintenance organization medical assistance 
  1.16  surcharge under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657; and 
  1.17     (4) the 1.8 percent hospital intergovernmental transfer 
  1.18  under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.19. 
  1.19     (b) The task force must consist of one person to be 
  1.20  selected by the Minnesota comprehensive health association and 
  1.21  the following members of the commission:  one person 
  1.22  representing a large employer; one person representing a small 
  1.23  employer; one person representing a health maintenance 
  1.24  organization; one person representing insurers regulated under 
  1.25  chapter 62A; one consumer; one person representing Blue Cross 
  2.1   and Blue Shield of Minnesota; one person representing hospitals; 
  2.2   one person representing employee unions; and the commissioners 
  2.3   of commerce and human services. 
  2.4      (c) The task force shall develop more than one alternative 
  2.5   funding mechanism and must prioritize its recommendations.  The 
  2.6   task force may not recommend any alternative that includes the 
  2.7   use of money from the general fund or the health care access 
  2.8   fund. 
  2.9      (d) The task force shall cooperate with the legislative 
  2.10  commission on health care access in developing its 
  2.11  recommendations and must report its final recommendations to the 
  2.12  legislative commission by November 5, 1996. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  [CONTRACT FOR HEALTH CARE STUDIES.] 
  2.14     The Minnesota health care commission shall contract over a 
  2.15  period of three years to complete the following studies: 
  2.16     (1) a study of the effects of the MinnesotaCare antitrust 
  2.17  exemption on mergers and consolidations in the state and on the 
  2.18  costs of health care; 
  2.19     (2) a study to identify the factors, such as insurance 
  2.20  mandates and antitrust legislation, that may limit the 
  2.21  effectiveness of managed competition in the health care field; 
  2.22     (3) a study to determine the effects of limited community 
  2.23  rating on access to health insurance; and 
  2.24     (4) a study of: 
  2.25     (i) legislation and the effects of legislation in other 
  2.26  states making children legally responsible for the care of aging 
  2.27  parents; and 
  2.28     (ii) the feasibility of similar legislation in Minnesota. 
  2.29     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.30     This act is effective the day following final enactment.