Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2461

 117 STAT. 2442

Deadline.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

13:59 Aug 30, 2004

PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

(4) Health care costs for even just 1 member of a family can be catastrophic, resulting in medical bills potentially harming the economic stability of the entire family. (5) Common life occurrences can jeopardize the ability of a family to retain private coverage or jeopardize access to public coverage. (6) Innovations in health care access, coverage, and quality of care, including the use of technology, have often come from States, local communities, and private sector organizations, but more creative policies could tap this potential. (7) Despite our Nation’s wealth, the health care system does not provide coverage to all Americans who want it. (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— (1) to provide for a nationwide public debate about improving the health care system to provide every American with the ability to obtain quality, affordable health care coverage; and (2) to provide for a vote by Congress on the recommendations that result from the debate. (c) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall establish an entity to be known as the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Working Group’’). (d) MEMBERSHIP.— (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Working Group shall be composed of 15 members. One member shall be the Secretary. The Comptroller General of the United States shall appoint 14 members. (2) QUALIFICATIONS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The membership of the Working Group shall include— (i) consumers of health services that represent those individuals who have not had insurance within 2 years of appointment, that have had chronic illnesses, including mental illness, are disabled, and those who receive insurance coverage through medicare and medicaid; and (ii) individuals with expertise in financing and paying for benefits and access to care, business and labor perspectives, and providers of health care. The membership shall reflect a broad geographic representation and a balance between urban and rural representatives. (B) PROHIBITED APPOINTMENTS.—Members of the Working Group shall not include Members of Congress or other elected government officials (Federal, State, or local). Individuals appointed to the Working Group shall not be paid employees or representatives of associations or advocacy organizations involved in the health care system. (e) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members of the Working Group shall be appointed for a life of the Working Group. Any vacancies shall not affect the power and duties of the Working Group but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (f) DESIGNATION OF THE CHAIRPERSON.—Not later than 15 days after the date on which all members of the Working Group have

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