Bill Text: CA SB1321 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: California Health Benefit Exchange: executive board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-06-25 - Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB1321 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB1321-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 1321	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Harman

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to add Section 100509 to the Government Code, relating to
health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1321, as introduced, Harman. Essential health benefits.
   Commencing January 1, 2014, existing law, the federal Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires a health
insurance issuer that offers coverage in the small group or
individual market to ensure that such coverage includes the essential
health benefits package, as defined. PPACA requires each state to,
by January 1, 2014, establish an American Health Benefit Exchange
that facilitates the purchase of qualified health plans by qualified
individuals and qualified small employers. PPACA defines a qualified
health plan as a plan that, among other requirements, provides the
essential health benefits package. Existing state law creates the
California Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of
qualified health plans by qualified individuals and qualified small
employers by January 1, 2014.
   This bill would require the board of the California Health Benefit
Exchange to determine the average premium per enrollee or insured
for each health plan listed as an optional benchmark plan in
regulations adopted pursuant to PPACA. The bill would require that
the plan with the lowest average premium per enrollee or insured set
the benchmark for items and services to be included in the definition
of essential health benefits under PPACA. The bill would specify
that its provisions shall only be implemented to the extent
consistent with regulations adopted pursuant to PPACA.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 100509 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   100509.  (a) The board shall determine the average premium per
enrollee or insured for each health plan listed as an optional
benchmark plan in regulations adopted pursuant to Section 1302 of the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
18022). The board's determinations pursuant to this section shall be
posted on its Internet Web site and submitted to the Assembly
Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health.
   (b) The health plan with the lowest average premium per enrollee
or insured, as determined by the board under subdivision (a), shall
set the benchmark for items and services to be included in the
definition of essential health benefits under Section 1302 of the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
18022).
   (c) This section shall only be implemented to the extent
consistent with regulations adopted by the United States Department
of Health and Human Services under Section 1302 of the federal
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 18022).