(a) The board shall:

(1) Develop and recommend a reasonable physician/medical practitioner provider fee schedule that conforms with federal Medicaid laws and remains within the limits of annual funding available to the single state agency for the Medicaid program. In developing the fee schedule, the board may refer to a nationally published regional specific fee schedule selected by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources. The board may consider identified health care priorities in developing its fee schedule to the extent permitted by applicable federal Medicaid laws and may recommend higher reimbursement rates for basic primary and preventive health care services than for other services. If the single state agency approves the fee schedule, it shall implement the physician/medical practitioner provider fee schedule;

(2) Review the fee schedule on a quarterly basis and recommend to the single state agency any adjustments it considers necessary. If the single state agency approves any of the board's recommendations, it shall immediately implement those adjustments and shall report the same to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on a quarterly basis;

(3) Meet and confer with representatives from each medical specialty area so that equity in reimbursement increases or decreases be achieved to the greatest extent possible;

(4) Assist and enhance communications between participating physician and medical practitioner providers and the Department of Health and Human Resources; and

(5) Review reimbursements in relation to those physician and medical practitioner providers who provide early and periodic screening diagnosis and treatment.

(b) The board may carry out any other powers and duties as prescribed for it by the secretary.

(c) Nothing in this section gives the board the authority to interfere with the discretion and judgment given to the single state agency that administers the state's Medicaid program. If the single state agency disapproves the recommendations or adjustments to the fee schedule, it is expressly authorized to make any modifications to fee schedules as are necessary to ensure that total financial requirements of the agency for the current fiscal year with respect to the state's Medicaid plan are met and shall report the same to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on a quarterly basis: Provided, That the single state agency shall provide reimbursement for the services of a registered nurse first assistant which reimbursement shall be no less than thirteen and six tenths of one percent of the rate for a surgeon physician. The purpose of the board is to assist and enhance the role of the single state agency in carrying out its mandate by acting as a means of communication between the Medicaid provider community and the agency.

(d) On a quarterly basis, the single state agency and the board shall report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance the status of the fund, any adjustments to the fee schedule and the fee schedule for each health care provider group identified in section one of this article.