Sec. 7. Health care administrative streamlining work group.

1. Work group established. The Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance shall convene a health care administrative streamlining work group to facilitate the creation and implementation of a single portal through which hospitals can access and transmit member eligibility, benefit and claims information from multiple insurers. The work group shall investigate:

A. Funding mechanisms, including seeking outside funding for start-up and ongoing operational costs, with the intention that the portal become independent and sustainable over time; and

B. Ways to ensure that savings resulting from implementation of such a portal are passed on to purchasers in the form of rate reductions by hospitals and other providers and by reductions in administrative costs by insurers and 3rd-party administrators.

The work group may also consider the incorporation of medical and quality data to the extent possible in the future.

2. Membership. The work group consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor. The membership of the work group must reflect the geographic diversity of the State. Members serve as volunteers and without compensation or reimbursement for expenses. The membership consists of the following persons:

A. Four members representing community hospitals chosen from a list submitted by a statewide association representing hospitals;

B. Four members representing insurers or other 3rd-party payors;

C. Two members representing physician practices;

D. One member representing an organization that specializes in the collection of health care data;