Bill Text: NH HB257 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Hampshire House Bill 257 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relative to purchasing alliances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-11-13 - Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 18-0; Consent Calendar) [HB257 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2019-HB257-Introduced.html

HB 257-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2019 SESSION

19-0362

01/05

HOUSE BILL 257-FN

AN ACT relative to purchasing alliances.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hunt, Ches. 11

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

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ANALYSIS

This bill declares that health coverage purchased through a qualified purchasing alliance shall be considered by the department of insurance to be large group coverage. The bill also clarifies certain laws relative to purchasing alliances.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0362

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

AN ACT relative to purchasing alliances.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Coverage Purchased Through a Qualified Purchasing Alliance. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 19-c the following new section:

415:19-d Coverage Purchased Through a Qualified Purchasing Alliance. Health coverage purchased through a qualified purchasing alliance, as defined in RSA 420-M:2, X, shall be considered by the department of insurance to be large group coverage subject to all applicable laws and rules that generally apply to large group accident and health insurance coverage, notwithstanding the size of any individual member employer.

2 Purchasing Alliances; Qualified Purchasing Alliance. Amend the introductory paragraph and paragraph I of RSA 420-M:13 to read as follows:

A purchasing alliance that has a minimum of [3,000] 500 enrollees may elect to obtain certification from the commissioner as a qualified purchasing alliance. To obtain certification, a purchasing alliance shall demonstrate:

I. Either that membership in the alliance is open to all employers without discrimination or that the alliance has established membership criteria that limit membership in the alliance to [employers that are] members of [or affiliated with] an association, trade group, or other entity that has been in existence for at least 10 years and was established and maintained for purposes other than the provision of health coverage; and

3 Powers and Duties of Purchasing Alliances; Restrictions on Purchasing Alliances. Amend RSA 420-M:7, II(s) to read as follows:

(s) Negotiate the premium rates charged for coverage offered through the alliance [and, for small employer members, ensure that rates are consistent with the rating restrictions contained in RSA 420-G];

4 Purchasing Alliances; Powers and Duties of Purchasing Alliances; Restrictions on Purchasing Alliances. Amend RSA 420-M:7, III(a)-(e) to read as follows:

(a) [Purchase health care services directly, assume risk for the cost or provision of health care services, or otherwise contract with health care providers for the provision of health care services to enrollees.

(b)] Exclude from membership in the alliance an employer, eligible employee, or eligible dependent of an eligible employee who meets the alliance's membership criteria and who agrees to pay fees for membership and the premium for health coverage through the alliance and who abides by the bylaws and rules of the alliance.

[(c)] (b) As a condition of membership, require an employer, eligible employee, or eligible dependent to subscribe to limited health coverage or non-health coverage related products or services.

[(d)] (c) Engage in any act or practice that results in the selection of member employers and enrollees based on industry type, experience, gender, family status, education, health status, income, employer size, or other factors related to the risk profile of the group.

[(e)] (d) Require or take any action inconsistent or in conflict with state laws or regulations.

5 Portability, Availability, and Renewability of Health Coverage. Amend RSA 420-G:10, I(a)-(e) to read as follows:

(a) [Comply with the rating restrictions outlined in RSA 420-G:4 for all small employer members with 50 or fewer employees based upon the association's or alliance's group experience, except that for a qualified association trust, no rating factor shall be utilized without the express written consent of the association.

(b)] Offer all eligible members, as defined under the applicable trust or other documents, coverage and rates on a guaranteed issue and renewable basis.

[(c)] (b) Comply with the regulations concerning medical underwriting in RSA 420-G:5.

[(d)] (c) Comply with the preexisting conditions provision of RSA 420-G:7.

[(e)] (d) Prohibit any employer that voluntarily discontinues participation in either a qualified association trust or a qualified purchasing alliance from rejoining for a period of at least 24 months.

6 Repeal. RSA 420-M:12, relative to purchasing alliance distinguished from multiple employer welfare arrangement, is repealed.

7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

19-0362

12/19/18

HB 257-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to purchasing alliances.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None


	Estimated Increase / (Decrease)
STATE:	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Appropriation	$0	$0	$0	$0
Revenue	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable
Expenditures	$0	$0	$0	$0
Funding Source:	[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

COUNTY:
Revenue	$0	$0	$0	$0
Expenditures	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable

LOCAL:
Revenue	$0	$0	$0	$0
Expenditures	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable	Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill provides that health coverage purchased through a qualified purchasing alliance shall be considered by the Insurance Department to be large group coverage. The bill amends the laws relative to purchasing alliances and the applicability of small group health insurance laws to small groups joining a purchasing alliance. The Department indicates, where health status and/ or experience is a permitted rating factor for large employers, it is a prohibited rating factor for small employers. The Department assumes that those small employers that would benefit from health status or experience rating would opt to join a purchasing alliance while other small employers would remain in the traditional market. The Department assumes this would lead to adverse selection in the small employer, fully-insured market. The Department assumes the impact on insurance premium tax revenue would be small as coverage purchased through purchasing alliances must be fully-insured.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Insurance Department