§ 120-70.111. Purpose and powers of Committee.
§ 120‑70.111. Purposeand powers of Committee.
(a) The JointLegislative Health Care Oversight Committee shall review, on a continuingbasis, the provision of health care and health care coverage to the citizens ofthis State, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly onways to improve health care for North Carolinians. To this end, the Committeeshall study the delivery, availability, and cost of health care in NorthCarolina. The Committee shall also review, on a continuing basis, theimplementation of the State Health Insurance Program for Children establishedunder Part 8 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes. As part ofits review, the Committee shall advise and consult with the Department ofHealth and Human Services as provided under G.S. 108A‑70.21. TheCommittee shall review, on a continuing basis, the implementation of the NorthCarolina Health Insurance Risk Pool established under Part 6 of Article 50 ofChapter 58 of the General Statutes. As part of its review, the Committee shalladvise and consult with the Executive Director of the North Carolina HealthInsurance Risk Pool as provided under G.S. 58‑50‑180. The Committeemay also study other matters related to health care and health care coverage inthis State.
(b) The Committee maymake interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may reportto a regular session of the General Assembly. A report to the General Assemblymay contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of theCommittee.
(c) The Committee mayuse employees of the Legislative Services Office and may employ contractualservices as approved by the Legislative Services Commission to review andmonitor, on a continuing basis, the implementation of the Health InsuranceProgram for Children established under Part 8 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A ofthe General Statutes. The Committee shall have access to all records of theDepartment of Health and Human Services pertaining to the Health InsuranceProgram for Children and shall be kept apprised by the Department ofcommunications between the Department and the Health Care FinancingAdministration with respect to development, submission, and approval of andamendments to the State Plan for the Health Insurance Program for Children. TheCommittee and its employees shall also be entitled to attend all meetings andhave access to all records of the State Health Plan for Teachers and StateEmployees pertaining to the Health Insurance Program for Children that are notconfidential in accordance with G.S. 135‑37. G.S 135‑37 shall beapplicable to the Health Insurance Program for Children to the same extent thatis applicable to teachers and State employees. (1997‑443, s. 22.1(b); 1998‑1, s. 2(c);2007‑323, s. 28.22A(o); 2007‑345, s. 12; 2007‑532, s. 1.5.)