SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission, known as the Massachusetts Minimum Creditable Coverage Advisory Commission, to investigate and study various aspects of health insurance in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, or his designee; the executive director of the Commonwealth health insurance connector authority, or his designee; the president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, or his designee; 2 members appointed by the attorney general, 1 of whom shall be an employee health benefits plan specialist, and 1 of whom shall be a representative of a health consumer organization; the Boston district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, or his designee; 1 member who is a small business owner in Massachusetts, appointed by the governor; 1 member who is a taxpayer advocate, appointed by the governor; the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, or his designee; 1 member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; 1 member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 member to be appointed by the house minority leader. The scope of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, studying: (i) the feasibility of amending the existing mandated coverage standards required by section 2 of chapter 111M of the General Laws and the regulations promulgated by the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector, (ii) the feasibility of establishing three categories of benefits: mandated coverage, mandated provider and mandated offer, using the program implemented in Maine as a model, (iii) or other state models which would only require such benefits to be offered to consumers for purchase, rather than mandate coverage.  To the extent feasible, the commission shall tailor its recommendations to align with federal minimum requirements established by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any draft of legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate on or before June 1, 2016.