1. Beginning on a date specified by the board of trustees of the Missouri consolidated health care plan but not later than July 1, 1995, the Missouri consolidated health care plan established under section 103.005 shall implement a pilot project to make available to those residing in the pilot project area who are covered by the plan an alternative system of benefits for the treatment of chemical dependency added^* to those benefits regularly available to plan participants. The benefits provided under the pilot project shall be similar in scope and comprehensiveness, but not limited to, the benefits provided for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons who are chemically dependent under the department of mental health’s comprehensive substance treatment and rehabilitation program, popularly described as the C-STAR program. Such a pilot project shall operate for a period not to exceed four years. To the extent that participation in the pilot project incurs additional cost to a person covered under the plan, participation shall be voluntary. If no additional cost is incurred, the alternative system of benefits may be made in lieu of the regular benefits for the services in the pilot project area.

2. The Missouri state employees’ retirement system or the Missouri health care plan, as appropriate, shall in cooperation with the department of mental health and the department of commerce and insurance design the pilot project so as to generate data to evaluate the costs and benefits of providing coverage of chemical dependency using an alternative set of benefits as provided in this section. The Missouri consolidated health care plan shall at the completion of the pilot project submit to the governor and the members of the general assembly a report which describes the results of the evaluation of this pilot project. As authorized by appropriations made for that purpose, the Missouri state employees’ retirement system or the Missouri consolidated health care plan may contract with persons to conduct an independent evaluation of the pilot project established in this section.