143-683. Powers and duties of the Commission.

The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Study the needs of children with special health care needs in this State for health care services not presently provided or regularly available through State or federal programs or through private or employer-sponsored health insurance plans;

(2) Develop guidelines for case management services, quality assurance measures, and periodic evaluations to determine efficacy of health services provided to special needs children;

(3) Develop and coordinate an outreach program of case managers to assist children with special health care needs and their families in accessing available State and federal resources for all health care services;

(4) Review rules adopted by the Commission for Public Health pertaining to the provision of services for special needs children and make recommendations for modifications or additions to the rules necessary to improve services to these children or to make service delivery more efficient and effective;

(5) Review policies and practices of the Department of Health and Human Services and recommend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services changes that would improve implementation of health programs for children with special health care needs;

(6) Report to each session of the General Assembly not later than the first day of its convening. The report shall include a summary of the Commission's work and any recommendations the Commission may have on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health services delivery to children with special health care needs in this State, The Commission shall provide a copy of its report to the General Assembly's Commission on Children With Special Needs;

(7) Study the feasibility of establishing a privately funded risk pool to provide insurance coverage and services for children with special health care needs;

(8) Make recommendations to the Department and to the Commission for Public Health regarding quality assurance measures and mechanisms to enhance the health outcomes of children with special health care needs;

(9) Establish subcommittees as necessary to provide assistance and advice to the Commission in conducting its studies and other activities. The Commission may appoint non-Commission members to the subcommittees;

(10) Seek grants and other funds from private and federal sources to carry out the purposes of this Article; and

(11) Conduct other activities the Commission deems appropriate and necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article.