1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring the commissioner of human services to study 
1.3 	the consolidation of all state-funded health care programs into a single 
1.4 	sliding-fee-ability-to-pay program; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. STATE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS STUDY.
 1.7 	The commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioners of 
1.8 	health and commerce, shall study the feasibility of consolidating all state-funded health 
1.9 	care programs, in order to facilitate the cost-effective administration and appropriate 
1.10 	provision of basic health care services to all Minnesotans. The study shall include:
1.11 	(1) determining the cost impact of state-funded health care program consolidation 
1.12 	and any savings that may result from consolidation;
1.13 	(2) determining the impact of state-funded health care program consolidation on 
1.14 	wages and compensation trends;
1.15 	(3) determining the impact of state-funded health care program consolidation on 
1.16 	current and future federal funding support for state health care programs;
1.17 	(4) assessing incorporation of a sliding-fee premium scale based solely on an 
1.18 	individual's or employee's ability to pay;
1.19 	(5) assessing whether employers should receive a Minnesota tax deduction for 
1.20 	enrolling qualified employees and pooling their premiums with the state;
1.21 	(6) using a transition period to implement health care program consolidation;
1.22 	(7) assessing the advisability of mandating payroll deduction for collecting 
1.23 	premiums;
2.1 	(8) assessing a mandate for cost sharing of premiums by both employer and 
2.2 	employee;
2.3 	(9) assessing a mandate for all Minnesota employers either to provide affordable 
2.4 	health insurance coverage through private enterprise entities or, failing that, through a 
2.5 	single consolidated health care program for employees:
2.6 	(i) where employees do not qualify for current employer sponsored health coverage;
2.7 	(ii) where no employer health insurance plan is offered; or
2.8 	(iii) where the available coverage is unaffordable;
2.9 	(10) assessing the advisability of using 400 percent of Minnesota's minimum wage 
2.10 	as the maximum income level to qualify for enrollment in a consolidated health care 
2.11 	program;
2.12 	(11) assessing the value, advisability, and feasibility of offering a consolidated 
2.13 	health care program to full- and part-time employees; and
2.14 	(12) assessing the advisability of strictly limiting a consolidated Minnesota health 
2.15 	care program to only those benefits mandated by the federal Medicaid program.
2.16 	The commissioner of human services shall submit a report to the legislature by 
2.17 	January 15, 2007.

2.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.19 	$....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services 
2.20 	for fiscal year 2007 for the purposes in section 1.