1. (1) The Legislative Assembly takes notice of the increasing number of legislative proposals for mandating certain health coverages, whether such proposals mandate payments for certain providers of health care or mandate the offering of health coverages by insurance carriers and health care service contractors as a component of individual or group policies. Improved access to these health care services to segments of the population who desire them may provide social and health consequences that are beneficial and in the public interest.
2. (2) The Legislative Assembly also takes notice of the fact that the cost ramifications of expanding health coverages is resulting in a growing public concern. The way that the coverages are structured and the steps taken to create incentives to provide cost-effective services or to take advantage of features of services that offset costs can significantly affect the cost of mandating particular coverages.

3. (3) The Legislative Assembly hereby finds and declares the following:

   1. (a) The merits of a particular coverage mandate must be balanced against a variety of consequences that may go far beyond the immediate effect upon the cost of insurance coverage.
   2. (b) A systematic review of legislation proposing mandated or mandatorily offered health coverage that explores all ramifications of the proposed legislation will assist the Legislative Assembly determining whether mandating a particular coverage or offering is in the public interest.

[1985 c.747 §55]