SF2262 Bill Summary

• Removes the January 1, 2010 deadline for the commissioner of health to complete development of a plan to create transparent prices and improve health care cost and quality outcomes.

• Establishes an advisory committee comprised of health care providers, health plans, consumers, state agencies, employers, academic researchers, and quality improvement organizations that must meet at least three times per year to consult on peer grouping system development and administration.

• Increases provider review period from 30 to 60 days to review data accuracy before public reports are published, and extends the advance notice to providers from 90 to 120 days before publication of peer grouping results.

• Creates a structured appeals process allowing providers to dispute data accuracy or errors in methodology application, with commissioner cooperation during the data review period.

• Changes mandatory requirements to permissive language ("may" instead of "must" or "shall") for state employee insurance programs, political subdivisions, health plan companies, and the commissioner of human services to use peer grouping information for payment reform and provider incentives.