(1) The commissioner shall establish:

1. (a) an Office of Consumer Health Assistance before July 1, 1999; and
2. (b) a committee to advise the commissioner on consumer assistance rendered under this section.

(2) The office shall:

1. (a) be a resource for health care consumers concerning health care coverage or the need for such coverage;

2. (b) help health care consumers understand:

   1. (i) contractual rights and responsibilities;
   2. (ii) statutory protections; and
   3. (iii) available remedies;

3. (c) educate health care consumers:

   1. (i) by producing or collecting and disseminating educational materials to consumers, health insurers, and health benefit plans; and
   2. (ii) through outreach and other educational activities;

4. (d) for health care consumers that have difficulty in accessing their health insurance policies because of language, disability, age, or ethnicity, provide services, directly or through referral, such as:

   1. (i) information and referral; and
   2. (ii) adverse benefit determination process initiation;
5. (e) analyze and monitor federal and state consumer health-related statutes, rules, and regulations; and
6. (f) summarize information gathered under this section and make the summaries available to the public, government agencies, and the Legislature.

(3) The office may:

1. (a) obtain data from health care consumers as necessary to further the office's duties under this section;
2. (b) investigate complaints and attempt to resolve complaints at the lowest possible level; and
3. (c) assist, but not testify or represent, a consumer in an adverse benefit determination, arbitration, judicial, or related proceeding, unless the proceeding is in connection with an enforcement action brought under Section 31A-2-308.