Section 2. There is hereby established a division of health care finance and policy under the supervision and control of the commissioner. The secretary of health and human services shall appoint the commissioner, with the approval of the governor, who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. The commissioner shall have such educational qualifications and administrative and other experience as the secretary of health and human services determines to be necessary for the performance of the duties of commissioner. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty.

The commissioner shall appoint and may remove such agents and subordinate officers as the commissioner may deem necessary and may establish such subdivisions within the division as the commissioner deems appropriate from time to time to fulfill the following duties:

[Clause (a) of the second paragraph effective until October 1, 2007. For text effective October 1, 2007, see below.]

(a) to collect, analyze and disseminate health care data to assist in the formulation of health care policy and in the provision and purchase of health care services;

[Clause (a) of the second paragraph as amended by 2006, 58, Sec. 37 effective October 1, 2007. See 2006, 58, Sec. 146. For text effective until October 1, 2007, see above.]

(a) to collect, analyze and disseminate health care data to assist in the formulation of health care policy and in the provision and purchase of health care services; and

[There is no clause (b).]

[Clause (c) of the second paragraph effective until October 1, 2007. Deleted by 2006, 58, Sec. 38. See 2006, 58, Sec. 146.]

(c) to administer the uncompensated care pool established by section eighteen; and

(d) to provide, on a basis calculated to reduce or contain the costs of the program, a program of insurance coverage for health care services for persons in the commonwealth who are not otherwise eligible for or covered by a health insurance plan, a self-insurance health plan, a medical assistance program or any other plan or program which provides for payment by a third-party payer for health care services;

The division shall adopt and amend rules and regulations, in accordance with chapter thirty A, for the administration of its duties and powers and to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this chapter. Such regulations shall be adopted, after notice and hearing, only upon consultation with representatives of nonprofit hospital service corporations established under chapter one hundred and seventy-six A, elected representatives of health systems agencies designated pursuant to Title XV of the federal public health service act, representatives of companies authorized to sell accident and health insurance under chapter one hundred and seventy-five and the Massachusetts Hospital Association.