The Wyoming Healthcare Commission still has many questions about a legislative proposal that would create a pilot project to insure people who have entry-level jobs but make too much to be on Medicaid and don't receive insurance through work.

Dr. Larry Kirven, cochairman of the commission, said the commission might want to consider asking the Legislature for only a few hundred thousand dollars to help develop this project, instead of asking for several million dollars to create the project and fund it.

Then, in 2010 the Legislature can look at the developed program and fund it, he said.

"What we should say to them is, 'What do you think you could give us to take this to the next step?'" Kirven said.

The commission will discuss possible legislation with the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee next week.

Wendy Curran, health policy adviser to the governor, presented to the commission Monday the latest update on the proposal.

Commissioners said the update lacked details such as what populations would be served, who would administer the project, how much it would cost and how the program would run.

"I think the concept is here, but I don't know if it warrants the support of the commission," said Rex Arney, cochairman. "I would feel uncomfortable going in front of the committee without more details."

Arney said the two-step approach would be more conservative but more defensible.

Curran said much of the design of the project would be done after a bill was passed. She said components of the health plan for working people without insurance would most likely include preventative benefits, health management services and a personal health account.

The goal of the project is to offer affordable insurance while reducing health care costs through promoting prevention and managing chronic illness, she said.

Rod Barton, commissioner, said the proposal mixes too many components.

"We're trying to increase reimbursement for physicians while dealing with chronic disease and improving prevention efforts," said Barton, Powell Valley Healthcare chief executive officer.

Dr. Jack Glode, a cardiologist, said the commission really didn't have much more information on the project than they did two months ago.

Curran apologized for some of the frustration of the commissioners.

"Somewhere in the future, we have to go forward," Curran said. "It's been equally frustrating for all of us. We all want to do something and we have the concepts there, we've just been unable to pull it all together."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.

Last we knew: The Wyoming Healthcare Commission helped revive a bill killed in the 2008 session that would create a pilot project to help insure workers without insurance. The commission was uninvolved with the first bill but began working with the governor's office and legislators on possible legislation.

The latest: The commission heard an update on the proposal Monday. They still had many questions and were unsure of what their next step regarding the legislation would be.

What's next: The commission will speak to the Joint Labor, Health and Human Services Interim Committee about their recommendations with this proposed legislation. Even if the commission decides not to recommend legislation, involved legislators can still move forward with the project.