Bill Text: NJ S296 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes certain standards for health benefits plans with tiered network.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-06-06 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S296 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S296-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 296

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator  NIA H. GILL

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes certain standards for health benefits plans with tiered network.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on June 6, 2016, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning certain health insurance networks and supplementing P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et al.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  As used in this act:

     "Carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State, the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission.

     ¹["Emergency or urgent basis" means all emergency and urgent care services including, but not limited to, those services defined pursuant to N.J.A.C.11:24-5.3.]¹

     "Tiered network" means a managed care plan provider network with more than one level or tier of in-network benefits, based on different levels of ¹[reimbursement and]¹ cost sharing accepted by the health care providers in that network.

 

     2.    In the case of a health benefits plan with a tiered network, a carrier shall ensure that:

     a.     the ¹[actuarial value of the health benefits plan is reported] cost sharing differences for covered persons in various tiers are clearly and conspicuously stated¹ on the carrier's website and in plan documents supplied to the subscriber, in a form and manner to be prescribed by the Department of Banking and Insurance; ¹and¹

     b.    ¹[the cost sharing amount associated with the lowest or least preferred tiered of the plan is, at a minimum, actuarially equivalent to the cost sharing associated with a level of coverage for a silver health plan, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 156.140; and

     c.  University Hospital, and any other general or acute care hospital that is designated an instrumentality of the State, shall be included in the highest or preferred tier of the network] variations in cost sharing among provider tiers are reasonable in relation to the premium charged.  With respect to this requirement:

     (1) a carrier may offer more than two levels or tiers of providers within the tiered network; and

     (2) variations among each of the levels or tiers shall be reasonable in relation to the premium charged¹ .

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.