Joint Budget Committee introduces Commission on Medicaid bill after debates on facilitator, membership and cost

The Joint Budget Committee unanimously moved to introduce LLS 10 20, a bill to establish a Commission on Medicaid, after extended discussion about the panel’s composition, procurement and funding.

Senator Mobley described the commission’s proposed membership as 10 members — six JBC members plus two members from each of the House and Senate health committees — and said the first meeting should set quorum rules and other operating guidelines. She also noted the bill requires issuance of an RFP to select a facilitator.

Committee counsel said procurement timing and exceptions can complicate the schedule. Mr. Kurtz pointed members to past practice and said exceptions to procurement rules exist but would require legal review. Jake Faust of the Office of Legislative Legal Services suggested consulting Legislative Council staff for administering the commission and recommended that the committee articulate qualification criteria for any contractor to improve the solicitation.

Mr. Kurtz reported two additions to the draft and a Legislative Council staff estimate: “Legislative Council staff is estimating that this is going to cost about $272,000,” he said, and the Budget Committee had set aside $500,000 for the project. Kurtz broke the estimate into roughly $200,000 for a facilitator contract, $44,000 for council support and $28,000 for per diem for members.

Representative Brown asked for explicit language requiring state agencies to provide necessary data to the commission and suggested budgeting to bring in out‑of‑state or national experts where useful.

Vice Chair Bridges moved to introduce LLS 10 20; the motion passed 6‑0. The chair said the bill will start in the Senate with sponsors Amabile and Bridges; House sponsors were listed as Brown and Taggart, with Sirota and Kirkmeyer as cosponsors. Committee members asked staff to refine language on facilitator qualifications, conflicts of interest and the commission’s leadership selection before filing.