Bill Text: CT SB01204 | 2011 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Establishing The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-24 - Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate [SB01204 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2011-SB01204-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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January Session, 2011 |
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AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) For purposes of this section and sections 2 to 13, inclusive, of this act:
(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange;
(2) "Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner;
(3) "Exchange" means the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange established pursuant to section 2 of this act;
(4) "Federal act" means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, P.L. 111-152, as both may be amended from time to time, and regulations adopted thereunder;
(5) (A) "Health benefit plan" means an insurance policy or contract offered, delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in the state by a health carrier to provide, deliver, pay for or reimburse any of the costs of health care services.
(B) "Health benefit plan" does not include:
(i) Coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (14), (15) and (16) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes or any combination thereof;
(ii) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;
(iii) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance;
(iv) Workers' compensation insurance;
(v) Automobile medical payment insurance;
(vi) Credit insurance;
(vii) Coverage for on-site medical clinics; or
(viii) Other similar insurance coverage specified in regulations issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, P.L. 104-191, as amended from time to time, under which benefits for health care services are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits.
(C) "Health benefit plan" does not include the following benefits if they are provided under a separate insurance policy, certificate or contract or are otherwise not an integral part of the plan:
(i) Limited scope dental or vision benefits;
(ii) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community-based care or any combination thereof; or
(iii) Other similar, limited benefits specified in regulations issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, P.L. 104-191, as amended from time to time;
(iv) Other supplemental coverage, similar to coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (9) and (14) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes, provided under a group health plan.
(D) "Health benefit plan" does not include coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (3) and (13) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes or other fixed indemnity insurance if (i) such coverage is provided under a separate insurance policy, certificate or contract, (ii) there is no coordination between the provision of the benefits and any exclusion of benefits under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor, and (iii) the benefits are paid with respect to an event without regard to whether benefits were also provided under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor;
(6) "Health care services" has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-478 of the general statutes;
(7) "Health carrier" means an insurance company, fraternal benefit society, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation health care center or other entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the state or the jurisdiction of the commissioner that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, pay for or reimburse any of the costs of health care services;
(8) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time;
(9) "Navigator" means a person or entity participating in the grant program established in accordance with section 7 of this act and Section 3510 of the federal act;
(10) "Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-1 of the general statutes;
(11) "Qualified dental plan" means a limited scope dental plan that has been certified in accordance with subsection (e) of section 9 of this act;
(12) "Qualified employer" means a small employer that elects to make its full-time employees eligible for one or more qualified health plans offered through the exchange, and at the option of the employer, some or all of its part-time employees, provided the employer:
(A) Has its principal place of business in the state and elects to provide coverage through the exchange to all of its eligible employees, wherever employed; or
(B) Elects to provide coverage through the exchange to all of its eligible employees who are principally employed in the state;
(13) "Qualified health plan" means a health benefit plan that has in effect a certification that the plan meets the criteria for certification described in Section 1311(c) of the federal act and section 8 of this act;
(14) "Qualified individual" has the same meaning as provided in Section 1312 of the federal act;
(15) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and
(16) (A) "Small employer" means an employer that employed an average of not more than fifty employees during the preceding calendar year.
(B) For purposes of this subdivision:
(i) All persons treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as a single employer;
(ii) An employer and any predecessor employer shall be treated as a single employer;
(iii) All employees shall be counted, including part-time employees and employees who are not eligible for coverage through the employer;
(iv) If an employer was not in existence throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination of whether such employer is a small employer shall be based on the average number of employees that is reasonably expected such employer will employ on business days in the current calendar year; and
(v) An employer that makes enrollment in qualified health plans available to its employees through the exchange, and would cease to be a small employer by reason of an increase in the number of its employees, shall continue to be treated as a small employer for purposes of this section and sections 2 to 13, inclusive, of this act as long as it continuously makes enrollment through the exchange available to its employees.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is hereby created as a body politic and corporate, constituting a public instrumentality and political subdivision of the state created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function, to be known as the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange. The purposes of the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall be to reduce the number of individuals without health insurance in this state and assist small employers in the procurement and administration of health insurance by, among other services, offering easily comparable and understandable health insurance options to individuals and small employers, and enrolling individuals in medical assistance programs. The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall be a solvent and self-sustaining entity on or before January 1, 2015. The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall not be construed to be a department, institution or agency of the state.
(b) (1) The powers of the exchange shall be vested in and exercised by a board of directors, which shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed on or before October 1, 2011, as follows:
(A) The Governor shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of three years;
(B) The president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of four years;
(C) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of four years;
(D) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of four years;
(E) The majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of four years;
(F) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of three years;
(G) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of three years; and
(H) The Commissioners of Social Services and Public Health, the Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioners' designees, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee and the Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee who shall serve as ex-officio nonvoting directors.
(2) Following the expiration of such initial terms, subsequent director terms shall be for four years, commencing on October first of the year of the appointment. If an appointing authority fails to make an initial appointment to the board or an appointment to fill a board vacancy within ninety days of the date of such vacancy, the appointed directors shall, by majority vote, make such appointment to the board. Any director previously appointed to the exchange board of directors may be reappointed in accordance with this subsection.
(3) Each appointee, other than the commissioners and the secretary, shall have demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: (A) Individual health insurance coverage; (B) small employer health insurance coverage; (C) health benefits plan administration; (D) health care finance; (E) public or private health care delivery system administration; or (F) health insurance plan purchase. When making an appointment, the appointing authority shall consider the expertise of the other directors to ensure the board's composition reflects a diversity of expertise and the cultural, ethnic and geographical communities of this state.
(4) (A) No director or member of the staff of the exchange shall be employed by, a consultant to, a member of the board of directors of, affiliated with or otherwise a representative of (i) an insurer, (ii) an insurance producer or broker, (iii) a health care provider, or (iv) a health care facility or health or medical clinic while serving on the board or on the staff of the exchange. For purposes of this subdivision, "health care provider" means any person that is licensed in this state, or operates or owns a facility or institution in this state, to provide health care or health care professional services in this state, or an officer, employee or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of such officer's, employee's or agent's employment.
(B) No director or member of the staff of the exchange shall be a member, a member of the board or an employee of a trade association of (i) insurers, (ii) insurance producers or brokers, (iii) health care providers, or (iv) health care facilities or health or medical clinics while serving on the board or on the staff of the exchange.
(C) No director or member of the staff of the exchange shall be a health care provider unless such director or member of the staff receives no compensation for rendering services as a health care provider and does not have an ownership interest in a professional health care practice.
(c) As a condition of qualifying as a member of the board of directors of the exchange, each appointee shall, before entering upon such member's duties, take and subscribe the oath or affirmation required under section 1 of article eleventh of the Constitution of the state. A record of each such oath shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the State. Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such times as shall be specified in the bylaws adopted by the board and at such other time or times as the chairperson deems necessary.
(d) The board of directors shall select a chairperson every two years from among the board members. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the board, which meeting shall be held not later than October 1, 2011. Any board member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the board.
(e) Board members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
(f) Four directors of the exchange shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power of the exchange. For the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power of the exchange, the exchange may act by a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance. No vacancy in the membership of the board of directors shall impair the right of such directors to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the board. Any action taken by the board under the provisions of sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act may be authorized by resolution approved by a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting, which resolution shall take effect immediately unless otherwise provided in the resolution.
(g) The board shall select and appoint a chief executive officer who shall be responsible for administering the exchange's programs and activities in accordance with policies and objectives established by the board. The chief executive officer shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall receive such compensation as shall be determined by the board. The chief executive officer (1) may employ such other employees as shall be designated by the board of directors, and (2) shall attend all meetings of the board, keep a record of all proceedings and maintain and be custodian of all records, books, documents and papers filed with or compiled by the exchange.
(h) The board may consult with such parties, public or private, as it deems desirable or necessary in exercising its duties under sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act.
(i) The board may create such advisory committees as it deems necessary to represent key stakeholders that may include, but need not be limited to, consumers, small employers, the insurance industry and health care providers.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The board of directors of the exchange shall adopt written procedures, in accordance with the provisions of section 1-121 of the general statutes, for: (1) Adopting an annual budget and plan of operations, including a requirement of board approval before the budget or plan may take effect; (2) hiring, dismissing, promoting and compensating employees of the exchange, including an affirmative action policy and a requirement of board approval before a position may be created or a vacancy filled; (3) acquiring real and personal property and personal services, including a requirement of board approval for any nonbudgeted expenditure in excess of five thousand dollars; (4) contracting for financial, legal, bond underwriting and other professional services, including a requirement that the exchange solicit proposals at least once every three years for each such service which it uses; (5) issuing and retiring bonds, bond anticipation notes and other obligations of the exchange; (6) establishing requirements for certification of qualified health plans that include, but are not limited to, minimum standards for marketing practices, network adequacy, essential community providers in underserved areas, accreditation, quality improvement, uniform enrollment forms and descriptions of coverage, and quality measures for health benefit plan performance; and (7) implementing the provisions of sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act or other provisions of the general statutes. Any such written procedures adopted pursuant to subdivision (7) of this section shall not conflict with or prevent the application of regulations promulgated by the Secretary under the federal act.
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The board of directors of the exchange shall require that the exchange be audited annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The board of directors of the exchange shall submit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to insurance a copy of each audit of the exchange conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and any audit conducted by an independent auditing firm, not later than seven days after the date such audit is received by the board of directors.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For purposes of sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act, "purposes of the exchange" means the purposes of the exchange expressed in and pursuant to this section, which are hereby determined to be public purposes for which public funds may be expended. The powers enumerated in this section shall be interpreted broadly to effectuate the purposes of the exchange and shall not be construed as a limitation of powers.
(b) The exchange is authorized and empowered to:
(1) Have perpetual successions as a body politic and corporate and to adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
(2) Adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(3) Maintain an office in the state at such place or places as it may designate;
(4) Employ such assistants, agents and other employees as may be necessary or desirable. Nonmanagerial employees of the exchange shall be members of the classified service. Managerial employees of the exchange shall be exempt from the classified service;
(5) Engage consultants, attorneys and other experts as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the exchange;
(6) Acquire, lease, purchase, own, manage, hold and dispose of real and personal property, and lease, convey or deal in or enter into agreements with respect to such property on any terms necessary or incidental to the carrying out of these purposes;
(7) Receive and accept, from any source, aid or contributions, including money, property, labor and other things of value;
(8) Charge assessments or user fees to health carriers or otherwise generate funding necessary to support the operations of the exchange and navigator grants under section 7 of this act;
(9) Procure insurance against loss in connection with its property and other assets in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;
(10) Invest any funds not needed for immediate use or disbursement in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States of America or the state and in obligations that are legal investments for savings banks in the state;
(11) Issue bonds, bond anticipation notes and other obligations of the exchange for any of its corporate purposes, and to fund or refund the same and provide for the rights of the holders thereof, and to secure the same by pledge of revenues, notes and mortgages of others;
(12) Borrow money for the purpose of obtaining working capital;
(13) Account for and audit funds of the exchange and any recipients of funds from the exchange;
(14) Make and enter into any contract or agreement necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and execution of its powers, including, but not limited to, agreements with the Departments of Revenue Services and Social Services, the Insurance Department, the Labor Department and any other state agency, as deemed necessary by the exchange;
(15) To the extent permitted under its contract with other persons, consent to any termination, modification, forgiveness or other change of any term of any contractual right, payment, royalty, contract or agreement of any kind to which the exchange is a party;
(16) Award grants to navigators as set forth in section 7 of this act. Applications for grants from the exchange shall be made on a form prescribed by the board. The board shall review applications and decide whether to award a grant. The board may consider, as a condition for awarding a grant, any factors the board deems relevant;
(17) Sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded;
(18) Adopt regular procedures that are not in conflict with other provisions of the general statutes, for exercising the power of the exchange; and
(19) Do all acts and things necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes of the exchange.
(c) The exchange shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 of the general statutes, except that the following information shall not be subject to disclosure under section 1-210 of the general statutes: (1) The names and applications of individuals and employers seeking coverage through the exchange; (2) individuals' health information; and (3) information exchanged between the exchange and (A) the Departments of Social Services, Public Health and Revenue Services, (B) the Insurance Department, (C) the office of the Comptroller, and (D) any other state agency that is subject to confidentiality agreements under contracts entered into pursuant to this section.
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The exchange shall:
(1) Implement procedures for the certification, recertification and decertification, consistent with guidelines developed by the Secretary under Section 1311(c) of the federal act, and section 9 of this act, of health benefit plans as qualified health plans;
(2) Limit the number of plans offered, and use selective criteria in determining which plans to offer, through the exchange, provided consumers have an adequate number and selection of choices;
(3) Provide for the operation of a toll-free telephone hotline to respond to requests for assistance;
(4) Provide for enrollment periods, as provided under Section 1311(c)(6) of the federal act;
(5) Maintain an Internet web site through which enrollees and prospective enrollees of qualified health plans may (A) obtain standardized comparative information on such plans; (B) access quality and price rating information developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for qualified health plans; and (C) access transparent information concerning a qualified health plan's premiums, cost sharing requirements, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance and coverage limitations, which information shall be contractually binding on the qualified health plan;
(6) Publish the average costs of licensing, regulatory fees and any other payments required by the exchange and the administrative costs of the exchange, including information on moneys lost to waste, fraud and abuse, on an Internet web site to educate individuals on such costs;
(7) Assign a rating to each qualified health plan offered through the exchange in accordance with the criteria developed by the Secretary under Section 1311(c)(3) of the federal act, and determine each qualified health plan's level of coverage in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary under Section 1302(d)(2)(A) of the federal act;
(8) Use a standardized format for presenting health benefit options in the exchange, including the use of the uniform outline of coverage established under Section 2715 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 USC 300gg-15, as amended from time to time;
(9) Inform individuals, in accordance with Section 1413 of the federal act, of eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time, or any applicable state or local public program, and enroll an individual in such program if the exchange determines, through screening of the application by the exchange, that such individual is eligible for any such program;
(10) Establish and make available by electronic means a calculator to determine the actual cost of coverage after application of any premium tax credit under Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code and any cost-sharing reduction under Section 1402 of the federal act;
(11) Ensure that a qualified employer is permitted to make defined contributions to a health carrier on behalf of an employee enrolling in such qualified health plan;
(12) Grant a certification, subject to Section 1411 of the federal act, attesting that, for purposes of the individual responsibility penalty under Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code, an individual is exempt from the individual responsibility requirement or from the penalty imposed by said Section 5000A because:
(A) There is no affordable qualified health plan available through the exchange, or the individual's employer, covering the individual; or
(B) The individual meets the requirements for any other such exemption from the individual responsibility requirement or penalty;
(13) Provide to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States the following:
(A) A list of the individuals granted a certification under subdivision (12) of this section, including the name and taxpayer identification number of each individual;
(B) The name and taxpayer identification number of each individual who was an employee of an employer but who was determined to be eligible for the premium tax credit under Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code because:
(i) The employer did not provide minimum essential health benefits coverage; or
(ii) The employer provided the minimum essential coverage but it was determined under Section 36B(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code to be unaffordable to the employee or not provide the required minimum actuarial value; and
(C) The name and taxpayer identification number of:
(i) Each individual who notifies the exchange under Section 1411(b)(4) of the federal act that such individual has changed employers; and
(ii) Each individual who ceases coverage under a qualified health plan during a plan year and the effective date of that cessation;
(14) Provide to each employer the name of each employee, as described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (13) of this section, of the employer who ceases coverage under a qualified health plan during a plan year and the effective date of the cessation;
(15) Perform duties required of, or delegated to, the exchange by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States related to determining eligibility for premium tax credits, reduced cost-sharing or individual responsibility requirement exemptions;
(16) Select entities qualified to serve as navigators in accordance with Section 1311(i) of the federal act and award grants to enable navigators to carry out the provisions of section 7 of this act;
(17) Review the rate of premium growth within and outside the exchange and consider such information in developing recommendations on whether to continue limiting qualified employer status to small employers;
(18) Credit the amount, in accordance with Section 10108 of the federal act, of any free choice voucher to the monthly premium of the plan in which a qualified employee is enrolled and collect the amount credited from the offering employer;
(19) Consult with stakeholders relevant to carrying out the activities required under sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act, including, but not limited to:
(A) Individuals who are knowledgeable about the health care system, have background or experience in making informed decisions regarding health, medical and scientific matters and are enrollees in qualified health plans;
(B) Individuals and entities with experience in facilitating enrollment in qualified health plans;
(C) Groups of small employers and self-employed individuals;
(D) The Department of Social Services; and
(E) Advocates for enrolling hard-to-reach populations;
(20) Establish methods of independently evaluating consumers' experience, including, but not limited to, hiring consultants to act as secret shoppers;
(21) Establish (A) rating systems that permit individuals and small employers to compare the value of competing qualified health plans; and (B) plan member satisfaction surveys concerning qualified health plans with particular emphasis on soliciting feedback from plan members who have serious health conditions or who have encountered financial difficulties as a result of serious health conditions; and
(22) Meet the following financial integrity requirements:
(A) Keep an accurate accounting of all activities, receipts and expenditures and annually submit to the Secretary, the Governor, the Insurance Commissioner and the General Assembly a report concerning such accountings;
(B) Fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Secretary pursuant to the Secretary's authority under the federal act and allow the Secretary, in coordination with the Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to:
(i) Investigate the affairs of the exchange;
(ii) Examine the properties and records of the exchange; and
(iii) Require periodic reports in relation to the activities undertaken by the exchange; and
(C) Not use any funds in carrying out its activities under sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act, that are intended for the administrative and operational expenses of the exchange, for staff retreats, promotional giveaways, excessive executive compensation or promotion of federal or state legislative and regulatory modifications.
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The exchange shall establish a navigator grant program that shall award grants to certain entities to market the exchange for the purposes of: (1) Conducting public education activities to raise awareness of the availability of qualified health plans sold through the exchange; (2) distributing fair and impartial information concerning enrollment in qualified health plans; (3) distributing fair and impartial information about the availability of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions pursuant to the federal act; (4) facilitating enrollment in qualified health plans; (5) referring individuals with a grievance, complaint or question regarding a plan, a plan's coverage or a determination under a plan's coverage to the Office of the Healthcare Advocate or any customer relations unit established by the exchange; and (6) providing information in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to the needs of the population being served by the exchange.
(b) The exchange shall award navigator grants, at the sole discretion of the board of directors, to any of the following entities to carry out navigator functions: (1) A trade, industry or professional association; (2) a community and consumer-focused nonprofit group; (3) a chamber of commerce; (4) a labor union; (5) a small business development center; or (6) an insurance producer or broker licensed in this state. A navigator shall not be an insurer or receive any consideration directly or indirectly from any insurer in connection with the enrollment of any qualified individual or employees of a qualified employer in a qualified health plan. An eligible entity shall not receive a navigator grant unless it can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board of directors of the exchange that it has (A) existing relationships, or could readily establish such relationships, with small employers and their employees, individuals including uninsured and underinsured individuals, or self-employed individuals likely to be qualified to enroll in a qualified health plan, or (B) particular expertise or experience in meeting the health insurance needs of small employers, minority populations, elderly populations and young adults.
(c) A navigator shall comply with all applicable provisions of the federal act, regulations adopted thereunder or guidance issued pursuant to the federal act.
(d) The exchange shall collaborate with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to develop standards to ensure that the information distributed and provided by navigators is fair and accurate.
(e) The exchange shall establish performance standards, accountability requirements and maximum grant amounts for navigators.
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The exchange shall make qualified health plans available to qualified individuals and qualified employers for coverage beginning on or before January 1, 2014.
(b) (1) The exchange shall not make available any health benefit plan that is not a qualified health plan.
(2) The exchange shall allow a health carrier to offer a plan that provides limited scope dental benefits meeting the requirements of Section 9832(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code through the exchange, either separately or in conjunction with a qualified health plan, if the plan provides pediatric dental benefits meeting the requirements of Section 1302(b)(1)(J) of the federal act.
(c) Neither the exchange nor a health carrier offering health benefit plans through the exchange shall charge an individual a fee or penalty for termination of coverage if the individual enrolls in another type of minimum essential coverage because (1) the individual has become newly eligible for that coverage, or (2) the individual's employer-sponsored coverage has become affordable under the standards of Section 36B(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) A qualified employer, participating in the exchange: (1) Shall not offer to its employees outside the exchange coverage under a competing health benefit plan offering the same, or substantially the same, benefits provided through the exchange; (2) reserves the right to determine, subject to applicable state and federal law, (A) employer criteria for eligibility, enrollment and participation in the exchange, and (B) the amount of the employer contributions, if any, to a qualified health plan for employee coverage; (3) shall participate in a payroll deduction program to facilitate the payment of health benefit plan premium payments by employees to benefit from deductibility of gross income under 26 USC 125; and (4) shall make available, in a timely manner, for confidential review by the chief executive officer of the exchange, employer documents, records or other information that the chief executive officer reasonably determines are necessary to verify, (A) that the employer is in compliance with applicable state and federal law relating to the offering of group health benefit plans, particularly provisions of such laws relating to nondiscrimination in coverage, and (B) the eligibility, under the terms of the health benefit plan, of those employees enrolled in such plan.
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The exchange may certify a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan if:
(1) The plan provides the essential health benefits package, as described in Section 1302(a) of the federal act, and the coverage mandates required under chapter 700c of the general statutes, except that the plan shall not be required to provide essential benefits that duplicate the minimum benefits of qualified dental plans, as set forth in subsection (e) of this section, if:
(A) The exchange has determined that at least one qualified dental plan is available to supplement the plan's coverage; and
(B) The health carrier makes prominent disclosure at the time it offers the plan, in a form approved by the exchange, that such plan does not provide the full range of essential pediatric benefits, and that qualified dental plans providing those benefits and other dental benefits not covered by such plan are offered through the exchange;
(2) The premium rates and contract language have been approved by the commissioner;
(3) The plan provides at least a bronze level of coverage, as determined pursuant to subdivision (7) of section 6 of this act, unless the plan is certified as a qualified catastrophic plan, meets the requirements of the federal act for catastrophic plans and will only be offered to individuals eligible for catastrophic coverage;
(4) The plan's cost-sharing requirements do not exceed the limits established under Section 1302(c)(1) of the federal act, and the plan's deductibles do not exceed the limits established under Section 1302(c)(2) of the federal act;
(5) The health carrier offering the plan:
(A) Is licensed and in good standing to offer health insurance coverage in the state;
(B) Agrees to offer at least (i) one qualified health plan at a bronze, silver, gold and platinum level of coverage, as determined pursuant to subdivision (7) of section 6 of this act, and (ii) one catastrophic plan, defined in Section 1302(e) of the federal act;
(C) Agrees to offer an identical plan outside the exchange, at the same premium rate;
(D) Charges the same premium rate for each qualified health plan without regard to whether the plan is offered through the exchange or directly by the health carrier or through an insurance producer;
(E) Does not charge any cancellation fees or penalties as set forth in subsection (c) of section 8 of this act;
(F) Ensures that commissions or financial incentives paid to an insurance producer or broker in connection with the sale of an insurance plan are comparable irrespective of whether the insurance plan is sold on or outside of the exchange; and
(G) Complies with the regulations developed by the Secretary under Section 1311(d) of the federal act and such other requirements as the exchange may establish;
(6) The plan meets the requirements for certification pursuant to written procedures adopted under section 3 of this act and regulations promulgated by the Secretary under Section 1311(c) of the federal act; and
(7) The exchange determines that making the plan available through the exchange is in the interest of qualified individuals and qualified employers in the state.
(b) The exchange shall not refuse to certify a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan:
(1) On the basis that (A) the plan is a fee-for-service plan, or (B) the health benefit plan provides treatments necessary to prevent patients' deaths in circumstances the exchange determines are inappropriate or too costly; or
(2) By conditioning such certification on the imposition of premium price controls by the exchange.
(c) The exchange shall require each health carrier seeking certification of a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan to:
(1) Agree to submit a justification for any premium increase before implementation of such increase. The health carrier shall prominently post such justification and any information related to such justification on its Internet web site. The exchange shall take such justification and information into consideration, along with any additional information and recommendations provided to the exchange by the commissioner under Section 2794(b) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 USC 300gg-94, as amended from time to time, when determining whether to allow the health carrier to continue to make such plan available through the exchange;
(2) Make available to the public in plain language, as that term is defined in Section 1311(e)(3)(B) of the federal act, and submit to the exchange, the Secretary and the commissioner, accurate and timely disclosure of the following for such plan:
(A) Claims payment policies and practices;
(B) Periodic financial disclosures;
(C) Data on enrollment;
(D) Data on disenrollment;
(E) Data on the number of claims that are denied;
(F) Data on rating practices;
(G) Information on cost-sharing and payments with respect to any out-of-network coverage;
(H) Information on enrollee and participant rights under Title I of the federal act; and
(I) Other information determined as appropriate by the Secretary; and
(3) Permit individuals to learn, in a timely manner upon the request of the individual, the amount of cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, under the individual's plan or coverage that such individual would be responsible for paying with respect to the furnishing of a specific item or service by a participating provider. At a minimum, this information shall be made available to the individual through an Internet web site and through other means for individuals without access to the Internet.
(d) The exchange shall not exempt any health carrier seeking certification of a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan from state licensure or reserve requirements and shall apply the criteria of this section in a manner that assures a level playing field between or among health carriers participating in the exchange.
(e) (1) The provisions of sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act, that are applicable to qualified health plans, shall also apply to the extent applicable to qualified dental plans, except as modified in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (2), (3) and (4) of this subsection or by written procedures adopted by the exchange.
(2) A health carrier seeking certification of a dental benefit plan as a qualified dental plan shall be licensed in the state to offer dental coverage, but need not be licensed to offer other health benefits.
(3) Qualified dental plans shall be limited to dental and oral health benefits, without substantial duplication of the benefits typically offered by health benefit plans without dental coverage and shall include, at a minimum, the essential pediatric dental benefits prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to Section 1302(b)(1)(J) of the federal act, and such other dental benefits as the exchange may specify or the Secretary may specify by regulation.
(4) Health carriers may jointly offer a comprehensive plan through the exchange in which dental benefits are provided by a health carrier through a qualified dental plan and health benefits are provided by another health carrier through a qualified health plan, provided the plans are priced separately and are also made available for purchase separately at the same such prices.
Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The state of Connecticut does hereby pledge to, and agree with, any person with whom the exchange may enter into contracts pursuant to the provisions of sections 1 to 13, inclusive, of this act, that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the exchange until such contracts and the obligations thereunder are fully met and performed on the part of the exchange, except that nothing in this section shall preclude such limitation or alteration if adequate provision shall be made by law for the protection of such persons entering into contracts with the exchange.
Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The exchange shall be exempt from all franchise, corporate business, property and income taxes levied by the state or any municipality, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt from any such taxes, or from any taxes levied in connection with, (1) the manufacture or sale of any products that are the subject of any agreement made by the exchange, or (2) any person entering into any contract with the exchange.
Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2013, the board of directors of the exchange shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, insurance and public health on the following:
(1) The potential effect of adverse selection on the operations of the exchange and recommendations to reduce the potential negative impact from any such adverse selection, including, but not limited to:
(A) Recommendations to ensure that rules governing health benefit plans are similar for plans offered through the exchange and outside the exchange; and
(B) Recommendations on whether the exchange should, as a condition of participating in the exchange:
(i) Require health carriers to offer health benefit plans such carriers offer outside the exchange at silver and gold levels of coverage, as determined pursuant to subdivision (7) of section 6 of this act; and
(ii) Prohibit such carriers from only offering health benefit plans at a bronze level of coverage, as determined pursuant to subdivision (7) of section 6 of this act, and catastrophic plans, as defined in Section 1302(e) of the federal act, outside the exchange; or
(iii) Prohibit health carriers from offering through or outside the exchange, through affiliates, the same health benefit plans at different premium rates;
(2) Recommendations to promote transparency in the exchange including, but not limited to, whether any contract between a health carrier and the exchange should be subject to disclosure pursuant to section 1-210 of the general statutes;
(3) (A) An initial methodology for imposing assessments or user fees on health carriers that demonstrates a reasonable likelihood of (i) collecting sufficient funds for the exchange including start-up costs, operating and administrative costs and moneys for navigator awards under section 7 of this act, and (ii) achieving financial sustainability of the exchange on or before January 1, 2015; and
(B) Any other funds the exchange has procured or is attempting to procure;
(4) Recommendations to ensure maximum participation by individuals and small employers in the exchange in order to optimally pool risks;
(5) Recommendations to ensure that the exchange is a viable and competitive alternative in the procurement of a health benefit plan for individuals and small employers;
(6) Recommendations to ensure that the administrative costs relating to the procurement of a health benefit plan for small employers participating in the exchange are reduced;
(7) Recommendations to ensure that defined contributions from a qualified employer for an employee's procurement of a health benefit plan are in fact used by the employee for the procurement of a health benefit plan;
(8) Whether to revise the definition of "small employer" from not more than fifty employees to not more than one hundred employees;
(9) Whether to allow employers with more than one hundred employees to participate in the exchange beginning in 2017;
(10) Whether to continue to require qualified health plans to provide benefits beyond those that are to be included in the essential health benefits package, as described in Section 1302(a) of the federal act;
(11) The administrative role, if any, the exchange should have in the collection and payment of premiums due to health carriers from individuals and small employers purchasing health benefit plans on the exchange;
(12) The relationship of the exchange to insurance producers and agents;
(13) Recommendations to ensure that transitions between state health care programs, including, Medicaid, HUSKY Plan, Part A or Part B, and the Charter Oak Health Plan, other federally subsidized health care coverage and fully private pay health coverage are centralized, seamless and preserve continuity of coverage and care; and
(14) The capacity of the exchange to award navigator grants pursuant to section 7 of this act.
(b) (1) The board of directors shall file the initial assessment methodology required under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section with the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than ten days after the date on which the report required under subsection (a) of this section has been provided to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, insurance and public health. Such methodology shall be deemed approved if the General Assembly fails to vote to approve or reject such methodology not later than thirty days after the date of filing. If the General Assembly votes to reject such methodology not later than thirty days after the date of filing, the board of directors shall, not later than fifteen days after such rejection, refile a revised methodology. Such refiling shall be subject to the provisions of this subdivision.
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply only to the initial assessment methodology. Any subsequent revision of the initially approved assessment methodology shall not be subject to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, provided the board of directors shall provide reasonable notice to carriers of any such revision.
(c) Not later than one year following the date of implementation of the exchange, and annually thereafter, the board shall evaluate and report to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, insurance and public health whether adverse selection is occurring in the exchange with respect to self-insured plans and health benefit plans offered outside the exchange.
Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Nothing in sections 1 to 12, inclusive, of this act, and no action taken by the exchange pursuant to said sections of this act shall be construed to preempt or supersede the authority of the commissioner to regulate the business of insurance in the state. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in sections 1 to 12, inclusive, of this act, all health carriers offering qualified health plans in the state shall comply with all applicable health insurance laws of the state and regulations adopted and orders issued by the commissioner.
Sec. 14. Subsection (l) of section 1-79 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(l) "Quasi-public agency" means the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority, Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Housing Authority, Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, Lower Fairfield County Convention Center Authority, Capital City Economic Development Authority, Connecticut Lottery Corporation, [and] Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut and Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange.
Sec. 15. Subdivision (1) of section 1-120 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(1) "Quasi-public agency" means the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Housing Authority, Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, Capital City Economic Development Authority, Connecticut Lottery Corporation, [and] Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut and Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange.
Sec. 16. Section 1-124 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Connecticut Development Authority, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Housing Authority, the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut, [and] the Capital City Economic Development Authority and the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall not borrow any money or issue any bonds or notes which are guaranteed by the state of Connecticut or for which there is a capital reserve fund of any kind which is in any way contributed to or guaranteed by the state of Connecticut until and unless such borrowing or issuance is approved by the State Treasurer or the Deputy State Treasurer appointed pursuant to section 3-12. The approval of the State Treasurer or said deputy shall be based on documentation provided by the authority that it has sufficient revenues to (1) pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and notes issued, (2) establish, increase and maintain any reserves deemed by the authority to be advisable to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds and notes, (3) pay the cost of maintaining, servicing and properly insuring the purpose for which the proceeds of the bonds and notes have been issued, if applicable, and (4) pay such other costs as may be required.
(b) To the extent the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Housing Authority, Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut, [or] the Capital City Economic Development Authority or the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange is permitted by statute and determines to exercise any power to moderate interest rate fluctuations or enter into any investment or program of investment or contract respecting interest rates, currency, cash flow or other similar agreement, including, but not limited to, interest rate or currency swap agreements, the effect of which is to subject a capital reserve fund which is in any way contributed to or guaranteed by the state of Connecticut, to potential liability, such determination shall not be effective until and unless the State Treasurer or his or her deputy appointed pursuant to section 3-12 has approved such agreement or agreements. The approval of the State Treasurer or his or her deputy shall be based on documentation provided by the authority that it has sufficient revenues to meet the financial obligations associated with the agreement or agreements.
Sec. 17. Section 1-125 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
The directors, officers and employees of the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Housing Authority, Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, including ad hoc members of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, Capital City Economic Development Authority, the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut, [and] Connecticut Lottery Corporation and Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange and any person executing the bonds or notes of the agency shall not be liable personally on such bonds or notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof, nor shall any director or employee of the agency, including ad hoc members of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, be personally liable for damage or injury, not wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious, caused in the performance of his or her duties and within the scope of his or her employment or appointment as such director, officer or employee, including ad hoc members of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority. The agency shall protect, save harmless and indemnify its directors, officers or employees, including ad hoc members of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or alleged deprivation of any person's civil rights or any other act or omission resulting in damage or injury, if the director, officer or employee, including ad hoc members of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, is found to have been acting in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of his or her employment and such act or omission is found not to have been wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 2 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 4 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 5 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 6 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 7 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 8 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 9 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 10 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 11 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 12 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 13 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 14 |
from passage |
1-79(l) |
Sec. 15 |
from passage |
1-120(1) |
Sec. 16 |
from passage |
1-124 |
Sec. 17 |
from passage |
1-125 |
APP |
Joint Favorable Subst. |