SB 172 Summary: Alaska Health Care Commission

• Establishes the Alaska Health Care Commission in the Department of Health and Social Services as the state health planning and coordinating body to develop a statewide health care plan addressing quality, accessibility, and availability of care.

• Commission comprises 14 members: 11 voting members appointed by the governor (including state medical director as chair, tribal health representative, hospital association representative, health care providers, insurers, consumers, and others) plus 3 nonvoting ex officio members from the legislature and governor's office.

• Public members serve staggered three-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive terms; the commission may employ an executive director and establish bylaws governing operations, including conflict of interest provisions requiring disclosure of interests valued over $5,000 annually.

• Commission shall provide recommendations for a statewide health plan that encourages personal responsibility for health, reduces costs through market forces and fraud reduction, eliminates health risks, develops a sustainable workforce, and improves health care access and insurance options.

• Commission must submit annual reports to the governor and legislature by January 15 each year including voting records, financial disclosures, and conflict of interest statements; the commission expires June 30, 2014.