17B:30-43 - "Hospital Care Payment Commission."
17B:30-43 "Hospital Care Payment Commission."
3. a. There is established, within the Department of Banking and Insurance, a "Hospital Care Payment Commission." The commission is constituted as an instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise by the commission of the powers conferred by this act shall be deemed and held to be an essential governmental function of the State.
b.The commission shall consist of the Commissioners of Banking and Insurance, Health and Senior Services and Human Services and the State Treasurer, who shall serve ex officio, and a representative of the hospital community appointed by the Governor for a term of three years. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall serve as chair of the commission.
The powers of the commission shall be vested in the members thereof, and a majority of the total authorized membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the commission at any meeting of the commission by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present. A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall not impair the right of a quorum of the members to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the commission.
c.Each ex officio member may designate an officer or employee of the member's department to serve as the member's representative at meetings of the commission, and each such designee may lawfully vote and otherwise act on behalf of the member. Any such designation shall be in writing delivered to the commission, and shall continue in effect until revoked or amended by a writing delivered to the commission.
d.On or before March 31 in each year, the commission shall make an annual report of its activities for the preceding calendar year to the Governor and the Legislature. Each report shall set forth at least the following: the number of hospitals participating in the program; the number and value of the debts processed; the number of challenges received by the commission; the number of debts returned to hospitals for incomplete information or a finding of lack of validity of the debt; the total level of funds recovered; and the total funds returned to hospitals. The commission shall also report at least quarterly to each participating hospital on the results regarding debts assigned by that hospital.
e.The director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury is authorized to provide all necessary accounting services to the commission, and to maintain the books, records and accounts of the commission, including receipts, disbursements, contracts and any other matter related to its financial standing.
L.2003,c.112,s.3.