H.R. 5807 — National Commission on Choices in Health Care Reform Act of 1990

 
HR 5807 IH
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
 H. R. 5807
To establish a National Commission on Choices in Health Care Reform.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 10, 1990
Mr. JONTZ introduced the following bill; which was jointly referred to the
Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means
A BILL
To establish a National Commission on Choices in Health Care Reform.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `National Commission on Choices in Health
  Care Reform Act of 1990'.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION.
  (a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established a National Commission on Choices
  in Health Care Reform (in this Act referred to as the `Commission').
  (b) COMPOSITION- The Commission shall be composed of 15 members as follows:
  (1) Two members of the Senate, one to be selected by the majority leader
  of the Senate, the other to be selected by the minority leader of the Senate.
  (2) Two members of the House of Representatives, one to be selected by
  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the other to be selected by
  the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
  (3) Two representatives of State government, to be jointly selected
  by the majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
  Representatives. One shall be a Governor and the other shall be a State
  official responsible for administering State health programs.
  (4) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  (5) Eight at large numbers, each with demonstrated expertise in health
  policy, to be selected jointly by the majority leader of the Senate and
  the Speaker of the House of Representatives. One shall be a representative
  of business, one shall be a representative of labor organizations, three
  shall be representatives of providers of health care, one shall be a
  representative of consumers of health care, and two shall be selected for
  their general expertise in health policy to represent the public's interest.
  (c) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN- The Commission shall select a Chairman
  and Vice Chairman from among its members.
  (d) QUORUM- Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
  (e) MEETINGS- The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman.
  (f) VACANCIES- Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any
  vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled
  in the same manner as the original appointment.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
  (a) DUTIES- The Commission shall--
  (1) examine the health care systems of countries, including Canada, Japan,
  and Germany, and each of the components (described in subsection (d))
  of such systems,
  (2) prepare legislative proposals for a national health care system in
  the United States based on the health care systems of Canada, Japan,
  and Germany (and, at the option of the Commission, any other country the
  health care system of which is examined under paragraph (1)) and based on
  the expansion of the current health care system of government (especially
  medicare) and private insurance in the United States, and
  (3) evaluate the extent to which each such legislative proposal serves
  the objectives described in subsection (e).
  (b) LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS- The legislative proposals under subsection
  (a), to the maximum extent practicable, shall be prepared in a manner that
  permits analysis and choice of the proposals by the components of systems
  (described in subsection (d)).
  (c) REPORT- Not later than May 1, 1992, the Commission shall submit to
  Congress a report on its examination under subsection (a)(1), on the
  legislative proposals it has prepared under subsection (a)(2), and on its
  evaluation of such proposals under subsection (a)(3). The Commission shall
  include in the report such recommendations with respect to enactment of
  components of legislative proposals as it deems appropriate.
  (d) COMPONENTS OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS- For purposes of this section, each
  of the following is a separate component of a health care system or proposal:
  (1) Standards for eligibility for receipt of services under the system.
  (2) Coverage of services under the system.
  (3) Payment for services under the system.
  (4) Means of controlling health care costs under the system and for
  evaluating the efficiency of the system.
  (5) Means for evaluating and assuring the quality of services provided
  under the system.
  (6) Methods for financing the operation of the system.
  (7) The relative roles of the Federal and State governments under the system.
In addition, in the case of a legislative proposal, a separate component of
the proposal shall be the role of the current health care system and private
providers in the United States under the proposal.
  (e) OBJECTIVES OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM- For purposes of this section,
  each of the following is an objective of a legislative proposal for a
  health care system:
  (1) All individuals, regardless of age, sex, race, health status, employment,
  or income, receive health care services when they need them.
  (2) All individuals receive health care services which are affordable and
  the costs of such services do not limit access.
  (3) All individuals are assured of comprehensive health care services,
  including access to long-term care and services for chronic health
  conditions.
  (4) All individuals receive high quality health care, and mechanisms are
  developed to encourage the delivery of high quality services.
  (5) All individuals have a reasonable choice of health care providers.
  (6) Financing of the health care system is equitable and affordable to
  all individuals.
  (7) All individuals, regardless of where they live, have access to the
  same health care services.
  (8) Methods of provider reimbursement promote cost containment, encourage
  efficient service delivery, and compensate providers fairly.
  (9) The health care system recognizes the importance of preventive health
  care services, and mechanisms are developed to encourage the delivery of
  such services.
  (10) An equitable and cost-effective system is developed for addressing
  medical malpractice.
  (11) The health care system is administered in a manner which promotes
  efficient service delivery and savings through reduced administrative costs.
SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
  (a) INFORMATION- The Commission may secure directly from any Federal
  department or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the
  Commission to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairman of the
  Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such
  information to the Commission.
  (b) CONTRACTS- To carry out this Act, the Commission may enter into such
  contracts and other arrangements to such extent or in such amounts as are
  provided in appropriation Acts, and without regard to the provisions of
  section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). Contracts and other
  arrangements may be entered into under this subsection with or without
  consideration or bond.
SEC. 5. COMMISSION STAFF.
  (a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission
  shall appoint an executive director. The employment of such executive
  director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
  (b) OTHER PERSONNEL- The Commission may appoint and terminate the executive
  director appointed under subsection (a) and such other personnel as it
  considers appropriate to assist in the performance of its duties under
  this Act, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
  Code, governing appoints in the competitive services, and may pay such
  executive director and other personnel without regard to the provisions
  of chapter 51 and subchapter 111 of chapter 53 of such title relating to
  classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay
  for such executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate
  payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
  (c) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER FEDERAL LAWS- Service of an individual as a
  member of the Commission or employment of an individual by the Commission
  on a part-time or full-time basis and with or  without compensation shall
  not be considered as service or employment bringing such individual within
  the provisions of any Federal law relating to conflicts of interests or
  otherwise imposing restrictions, requirements, or penalties in relation
  to the employment of persons, the performance of services, or the payment
  or receipt of compensation in connection with claims, proceedings, or
  matters involving the United States. Service as a member of the Commission
  or as an employee of the Commission shall not be considered service in an
  appointive or elective position in the Government for purposes of section
  8344 of title 5, United States Code, or comparable provisions of Federal law.
  (d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- Subject to such rules as may be prescribed by
  the Commission, the Chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and
  intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code,
  at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily rate payable for GS-18
  of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
  Ninety days after the date  the Commission submits its report as required
  in section 4(c) the Commission shall terminate.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be required to
  carry out this Act. Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain
  available until the day on which the Commission terminates under section 6.
National Commission on Choices in Health Care Reform Act of 1990

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