2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes § 58-90-10. Commission Duties and Responsibilities.

§ 58‑90‑10.  Commission Duties and Responsibilities.

(a)       The Commission shall do the following:

(1)       Adopt procedures and implement other administrative requirements necessary to carry out its duties under this Article.

(2)       Identify and evaluate comprehensively the problems small employers face when they attempt to obtain health insurance coverage for themselves and their employees and consider the impact these problems have for large employees and the communities they serve.

(3)       Initiate regional demonstration projects to pilot innovative health care plans and products to address the problems identified. Innovative products may include piloted community education programs targeted at top illnesses in an effort to increase early detection of these illnesses. Innovative plans may also include piloted programs targeted at increasing the demand for health insurance coverage by both employers and employees through the use of policy incentives. Innovative plans and products are subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Insurance as provided in G.S. 58‑90‑20.

(4)       Develop clear and substantive recommendations for actions that must be taken by health insurance carriers, health care providers, government, small business employers, large business employers, consumers, and consumer groups, in order to improve the availability and affordability of small employer health insurance coverage within the next three years.

(5)       Provide a report on the Commission's activities to the 2005 General Assembly, Regular Session 2006, upon its convening. Reports to the General Assembly shall include proposed legislation necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article.

(b)       The Commission shall consider the following issues and strategies in developing regional demonstration projects and other approaches to address the rising cost of health care:

(1)       Feasibility of establishing chronic disease management programs similar to those that are working successfully in this State and other states.

(2)       The cost‑effectiveness of existing and proposed health insurance coverage mandates.

(3)       Promoting collaboration among providers, insurers, government agencies, and consumers to improve health care affordability.

(4)       Promoting consumer education about available insurance products and promoting education of small business owners about the available insurance products, available services to assist them in understanding and selecting appropriate insurance plans, and current small business tax benefits regarding health insurance deductions.

(5)       Review and evaluate "consumer driven" benefit plans.

(6)       Increasing efforts and resources to educate and motivate consumers to use health care resources appropriately.

(7)       Rewarding technological innovation based in quality and evidence‑based outcomes that provide increased value to consumers over existing treatments.

(8)       Encourage case management of high utilizers.

(9)       Promoting evidence‑based medicine. (2004‑175, s. 3(a) and 3(b).)