Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry

Executive Order 13017 of September 5, 1996

Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and
Quality in the Health Care Industry

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), it is hereby ordered as
follows:

Section 1. Establishment. (a) There is established the
Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality
in the Health Care Industry (the “Commission”). The
Commission shall be composed of not more than 20
members to be appointed by the President. The members
will be consumers, institutional health care providers,
health care professionals, other health care workers,
health care insurers, health care purchasers, State and
local government representatives, and experts in health
care quality, financing, and administration.

    (b) The Secretary of Health and Human Services and
the Secretary of Labor shall serve as Co-Chairs of the
Commission. The Co-Chairs shall report through the Vice
President to the President.

Sec. 2. Functions. (a) The Commission shall advise the
President on changes occurring in the health care
system and recommend such measures as may be necessary
to promote and assure health care quality and value,
and protect consumers and workers in the health care
system. In particular, the Commission shall:

    (1) Review the available data in the area of
consumer information and protections for those enrolled
in health care plans and make such recommendations as
may be necessary for improvements;
    (2) Review existing and planned work that defines,
measures, and promotes quality of health care, and help
build further consensus on approaches to assure and
promote quality of care in a changing delivery system;
and
    (3) Collect and evaluate data on changes in
availability of treatment and services, and make such
recommendations as may be necessary for improvements.
    (b) For the purpose of carrying out its functions,
the Commission may hold hearings, establish
subcommittees, and convene and act at such times and
places as the Commission may find advisable.

Sec. 3. Reports. The Commission shall make a
preliminary report to the President by September 30,
1997. A final report shall be submitted to the
President 18 months after the Commission's first
meeting.

Sec. 4. Administration. (a) To the extent permitted by
law, the heads of executive departments and agencies,
and independent agencies (collectively “agencies”)
shall provide the Commission, upon request, with such
information as it may require for the purposes of
carrying out its functions.

    (b) Members of the Commission may receive
compensation for their work on the Commission not to
exceed the daily rate specified for Level IV of the
Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5315). While engaged in
the work of the Commission, members appointed from
among private citizens of the United States may be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving
intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C.
5701-5707) to the extent funds are available for such
purposes.

    (c) To the extent permitted by law and subject to
the availability of appropriations, the Department of
Health and Human Services shall provide the Commission
with administrative services, funds, facilities, staff,
and other support services necessary for the
performance of the Commission's functions. The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall perform
the administrative functions of the President under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C.
App.), with respect to the Commission.

Sec. 5. General Provision. The Commission shall
terminate 30 days after submitting its final report,
but not later than 2 years from the date of this order,
unless extended by the President.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     September 5, 1996.