(a) There is created a Health Strategies Council to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Any appointment made when the Senate is not in session shall be effective until the appointment is acted upon by the Senate. The Health Strategies Council shall be the successor to the Health Policy Council. Those members of the previously existing Health Policy Council who are serving as such on January 1, 1991, shall continue to serve until July 1, 1991, at which time their terms shall expire and that council shall be abolished. On and after that date the council shall be composed of 25 members. Of those members, at least one shall be appointed from each congressional district. The council shall be composed as follows:

(1) One member representing county governments;

(2) One member representing the private insurance industry;

(3) Ten members representing health care providers as follows:

(A) One member representing rural hospitals;

(B) One member representing urban hospitals;

(C) One member who is a primary care physician;

(D) One member who is a physician in a board certified specialty;

(E) One member who is a registered professional nurse;

(F) One member who is a registered professional nurse who is certified as a nurse practitioner;

(G) One member representing nursing homes;

(H) One member representing home health agencies;

(I) One member representing primary care centers; and

(J) One member who is a primary care dentist;

(4) Ten consumer representatives who are knowledgeable as to health care needs in the fields they represent but who have no financial interest in the health care industry as follows:

(A) One member representing health care needs of women;

(B) One member representing health care needs of children;

(C) One member representing health care needs of the disabled;

(D) One member representing health care needs of the elderly;

(E) One member representing health care needs of low-income persons;

(F) One member representing health care needs of small business personnel; (G) One member representing health care needs of large business personnel;

(H) One member representing health care needs of labor organization members; and

(I) Two members who represent populations with special health care access problems; and

(5) Three at-large members.

(b) If the state obtains an additional member of the United States House of Representatives as a result of reapportionment, the Governor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, from the new congressional district thus created one health care provider member who meets the requirements of subparagraph (a)(3)(J) of this Code section and one consumer member who meets the requirements of subparagraph (a)(4)(I) of this Code section as to a population specified in those subparagraphs which is not then represented on the council. With the addition of these two members, the council shall be composed of 27 members.

(c) The members of the council who are appointed to succeed those members whose terms expire July 1, 1991, shall take office July 1, 1991, and 12 of them shall be designated in such appointment to serve initial terms of office of two years and 13 of them shall be designated in such appointment to serve initial terms of office of four years. If two additional members are appointed to the council to represent a new congressional district as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, one shall be designated to serve an initial term of office which expires when the above initial two-year terms of office expire and one shall be designated to serve an initial term of office which expires when the above initial four-year terms of office expire. After the initial terms provided in this subsection, members of the council shall be appointed to serve for four-year terms of office. Members of the council shall serve out their terms of office and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.

(d) Members of the council shall be subject to removal by the Governor for incompetence, neglect of duty, or for failing to attend at least 75 percent of the meetings of the council in any year. Vacancies on the council shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(e) The Governor shall appoint the chairman of the council. A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum.

(f) The members of the council attending meetings of such council, or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by such council, shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for their expenses in attending meetings and for transportation costs as authorized by Code Section 45-7-21, which provides for the compensation and allowances of certain state officials.

(g) The functions of the council shall be to:

(1) Adopt the state health plan and submit it to the board for approval which shall include all of the components of the council's functions and be regularly updated; (2) Review, comment on, and make recommendations to the department on proposed rules for the administration of this chapter, except emergency rules, prior to their adoption by the department;

(3) Conduct an ongoing evaluation of Georgia's existing health care resources for accessibility, including but not limited to financial, geographic, cultural, and administrative accessibility, quality, comprehensiveness, and cost;

(4) Study long-term comprehensive approaches to providing health insurance coverage to the entire population; and

(5) Perform such other functions as may be specified for the council by the department or its board.

(h) The council shall prepare an annual report to the board and the General Assembly which presents information and updates on the functions outlined in subsection (g) of this Code section. The annual report shall include information for Georgia's congressional delegation which highlights issues regarding federal laws and regulations influencing Medicaid and medicare, insurance and related tax laws, and long-term health care.

(i) The council at the department's request shall involve and coordinate functions with such state entities as necessary.

(j) As used in subsections (g), (h), and (i) of this Code section, the term:

(1) "Board" means the Board of Community Health established under Chapter 5A of this title.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Community Health established under Chapter 5A of this title.