HEALTH PURCHASING COOPERATIVES

Creates the Health Benefit Purchasing Cooperatives Act. Authorizes health benefit purchasing cooperatives for the self-employed, small businesses, and farmers. Provides that one nonstock health benefit purchasing cooperative (cooperative) may be organized before January 1, 2009, in geographic areas of the State designated by the Director of Insurance. Provides that the purpose of a cooperative is to provide health care benefits to an individual who is a member of the cooperative, to officers and eligible employees of a member of the cooperative, and to eligible dependents of such individuals. Provides that each cooperative must annually submit to the Director a report on the significant findings from the project that includes, at a minimum, available information on: (a) the effect on health care coverage premiums in its geographic area; (b) the extent to which the cooperative has had an impact on the number of uninsureds in its geographic area; and (c) the degree to which health care consumers were involved in developing and implementing the health benefit purchasing arrangement.