The commission or department may direct independent studies, to include, but not be limited to, the following objectives:
(a) The development of a method of private medical insurance coverage of the Medi-Cal program as to those Medi-Cal beneficiaries whose medical costs reach a catastrophic level or who become chronically ill.
(b) The potential for Medi-Cal payment of medical coverage premiums for the various classifications of Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
(c) For each classification of Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the provision of specified medical benefits on the basis of subsidization by the beneficiaries through the payment of premiums.
(d) A comparison of Medi-Cal benefits with the medical coverage available to most Californians not covered by Medi-Cal, along with analysis and recommendations concerning alternative benefit packages for Medi-Cal.
(e) The determination of whether health care plans providing services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries should offer less than the full range of Medi-Cal benefits.
(f) The development of alternative standards for beneficiary eligibility and copayment under Medi-Cal.
(g) The development of a method of response to temporary deficits in the Medi-Cal program that will both control expenditures and, to the extent possible, preserve the availability to beneficiaries of essential health services.