HCR 17 KENAI PENINSULA INSURANCE POOL REP. GARY DAVIS, PRIME SPONSOR of HCR 17, read the following sponsor statement: "The Legislature established a Health Resources and Access Task Force in 1991. That Task Force submitted a final report with recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature in January 1993. The recommendations can be found on page 2 of this resolution. "The Kenai Peninsula Borough Economic Development District has established a Kenai Peninsula Borough Health Care Advisory Council to develop recommendations for a health care plan for the Kenai Peninsula Borough. This plan is a step in the right direction to address health care reform issues. They would like to have the plan address health care reform issues. They would like to have the plan implemented as a model for other areas statewide. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Health Care Advisory Council would like to be recognized as a model regional area for pooling insurance requirements, for establishing community rating for insurance premiums, for developing small group insurance regulatory reform measures, and for establishing a health maintenance organization. "HCR 17 requests that the Governor direct the Commissioner of Health and Social Services assist the Kenai Peninsula Borough Health Care Advisory Council in their pursuit of a model region wide health access and basic care program." Number 117 STAN STEDMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KENAI PENINSULA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT and CO-CHAIR of the HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL, testified in support of HCR 17. Mr. Stedman pointed out that in the packet he included an overview of the project and was available to answer questions. MR. STEDMAN stated that his group's primary goal would be to make available affordable health insurance to all residents, which would thereby increase access and utilization of the local health care system. Number 229 REP. PORTER asked if this project would provide insurance to some of the people who don't have insurance. Number 235 ME. STEDMAN stated that this project would provide insurance to a certain number of persons who currently don't have insurance. Mr. Stedman added that it would not be feasible to cover everyone at this time. Number 250 CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked if this program would be all voluntary. MR. STEDMAN replied that it would. Number 253 CHAIRMAN HUDSON noted that the information states that they will access revenue bonding capabilities and asked what some of the expenses would be anticipated that would require raising millions of dollars. He asked if the group was anticipating building clinics, etc. Number 268 MR. STEDMAN answered that they would be just capitalizing against risk. Number 278 REP. GREEN asked if this concept was like a cooperative and what would prevent this organization from going under because of too many high risk persons joining. MR. STEDMAN stated that it was a complex issue and the project was being constantly worked on to be cost competitive. Number 296 REP. MACKIE moved for passage of HCR 17 with individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note. No objections were heard; it was so ordered.