Bill Text: NY S00648 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Provides for the creation of a new program for health insurance for individuals and groups of fifty or fewer employers or members; provides for open enrollment and community rating; provides for a technical advisory committee; permits a pooling process for high cost claims/persons; permits reinsurance; provides for shifting individuals on direct pay to the small group market; permits the use of other stop loss funds.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO INSURANCE [S00648 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S00648-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          648
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   January 12, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sens.  LARKIN,  SEWARD, LEIBELL, MAZIARZ, VOLKER -- read
         twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
         Committee on Insurance
       AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the rating of individ-
         ual  and  small  group  health  insurance  policies  and contracts and
         several stop loss funds;  and  to  repeal  the  closing  paragraph  of
         subsection  (c)  of  section  3233  of  the  insurance law relating to
         convening the technical advisory committee  periodically  to  evaluate
         the  impact  of  the  standardized  direct  payment enrollee contracts
         offered pursuant to sections 4321 and 4322 of such law on the individ-
         ual health insurance market
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  Subsections  (a) and (b) of section 3231 of the insurance
    2  law, subsection (a) as amended by chapter 661 of the laws  of  1997  and
    3  subsection  (b)  as  amended  by  chapter  557  of the laws of 2002, are
    4  amended to read as follows:
    5    (a) No individual health insurance policy and no group  health  insur-
    6  ance policy covering [between two and] A GROUP OF fifty OR FEWER employ-
    7  ees or members of the group exclusive of spouses and dependents, herein-
    8  after  referred  to  as a small group, providing hospital and/or medical
    9  benefits, including medicare supplemental insurance, shall be issued  in
   10  this  state  unless  such policy is community rated and, notwithstanding
   11  any other provisions of law, the underwriting of such policy involves no
   12  more than the imposition  of  a  pre-existing  condition  limitation  as
   13  permitted  by this article. Any individual, and dependents of such indi-
   14  vidual, and any small group, including all employees  or  group  members
   15  and  dependents  of employees or members, applying for individual health
   16  insurance coverage, including medicare supplemental coverage,  or  small
   17  group  health insurance coverage, including medicare supplemental insur-
   18  ance, must be accepted at all times throughout the year for any hospital
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD03019-02-9
       S. 648                              2
    1  and/or medical coverage offered by the insurer to individuals  or  small
    2  groups in this state. Once accepted for coverage, an individual or small
    3  group  cannot  be  terminated  by  the insurer due to claims experience.
    4  Termination  of  an individual or small group shall be based only on one
    5  or more of the reasons set forth in  subsection  (g)  of  section  three
    6  thousand two hundred sixteen or subsection (p) of section three thousand
    7  two  hundred  twenty-one  of this article. Group hospital and/or medical
    8  coverage, including medicare supplemental insurance, obtained through an
    9  out-of-state trust covering a group  of  fifty  or  fewer  employees  or
   10  participating  persons who are residents of this state must be community
   11  rated regardless of the situs of delivery of the policy. Notwithstanding
   12  any other provisions of law, the underwriting of such policy may involve
   13  no more than the imposition of a pre-existing  condition  limitation  as
   14  permitted by this article, and once accepted for coverage, an individual
   15  or  small  group  cannot  be terminated due to claims experience. Termi-
   16  nation of an individual or small group shall be based  only  on  one  or
   17  more  of  the reasons set forth in subsection (p) of section three thou-
   18  sand two hundred twenty-one of this article. For the  purposes  of  this
   19  section,  "community  rated"  means  a  rating  methodology in which the
   20  premium for all persons covered by a policy or contract form is the same
   21  based on the experience of the entire pool  of  risks  covered  by  that
   22  policy  or  contract  form  without regard to age, sex, health status or
   23  occupation.
   24    (b) Nothing herein shall prohibit the use of premium  rate  structures
   25  to establish different premium rates for individuals as opposed to fami-
   26  ly  units  [or  separate  community  rates for individuals as opposed to
   27  small groups. If an insurer is required to issue a contract to  individ-
   28  ual  proprietors pursuant to subsection (i) of this section, such policy
   29  shall be subject to subsection (a) of this section].
   30    S 2. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 4317  of  the  insurance  law,
   31  subsection  (a)  as  amended  by  chapter  661  of  the laws of 1997 and
   32  subsection (b) as amended by chapter  557  of  the  laws  of  2002,  are
   33  amended to read as follows:
   34    (a) No individual health insurance contract and no group health insur-
   35  ance  contract  covering  [between  two  and]  A GROUP OF fifty OR FEWER
   36  employees or members of the group exclusive of spouses  and  dependents,
   37  including contracts for which the premiums are paid by a remitting agent
   38  for  a group, hereinafter referred to as a small group, providing hospi-
   39  tal and/or medical benefits, including Medicare supplemental  insurance,
   40  shall  be  issued  in this state unless such contract is community rated
   41  and, notwithstanding any other provisions of law,  the  underwriting  of
   42  such  contract  involves  no  more than the imposition of a pre-existing
   43  condition limitation as permitted by this article. Any  individual,  and
   44  dependents  of  such  individual,  and  any  small  group, including all
   45  employees or group members  and  dependents  of  employees  or  members,
   46  applying for individual or small group health insurance coverage must be
   47  accepted  at  all  times  throughout  the  year  for any hospital and/or
   48  medical coverage, including Medicare supplemental insurance, offered  by
   49  the  corporation  to  individuals  or  small  groups in this state. Once
   50  accepted for coverage, an individual or small group cannot be terminated
   51  by the insurer due to claims experience.  Termination  of  coverage  for
   52  individuals  or  small  groups  may  be based only on one or more of the
   53  reasons set forth in subsection  (c)  of  section  four  thousand  three
   54  hundred  four  or  subsection (j) of section four thousand three hundred
   55  five of this article. For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  "community
   56  rated"  means  a rating methodology in which the premium for all persons
       S. 648                              3
    1  covered by a policy or contract form is the same, based on  the  experi-
    2  ence of the entire pool of risks covered by that policy or contract form
    3  without regard to age, sex, health status or occupation.
    4    (b)  Nothing  herein shall prohibit the use of premium rate structures
    5  to establish different premium rates for individuals as opposed to fami-
    6  ly units [or separate community rates  for  individuals  as  opposed  to
    7  small  groups. If a corporation is required to issue a contract to indi-
    8  vidual proprietors pursuant to subsection  (f)  of  this  section,  such
    9  contract  shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this
   10  section].
   11    S 3. The closing paragraph of subsection (c) of section  3233  of  the
   12  insurance  law is REPEALED and two new subsections (d) and (e) are added
   13  to read as follows:
   14    (D) (1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS  CHAPTER  OR  ANY  OTHER
   15  PROVISION  OF  LAW, ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN, THE
   16  SUPERINTENDENT SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO ENSURE AN ORDERLY  IMPLE-
   17  MENTATION  AND  ONGOING  OPERATION  OF THE OPEN ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNITY
   18  RATING REQUIRED BY SECTIONS THREE THOUSAND TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  AND
   19  FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AS AMENDED BY THE
   20  CHAPTER  OF  THE  LAWS  OF TWO THOUSAND NINE THAT ADDED THIS SUBSECTION,
   21  INCLUDING PROVISIONS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE  INSURERS  TO  REMAIN  IN  OR
   22  ENTER  THE  SMALL  GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL
   23  APPLY TO ALL INSURERS AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATIONS  SUBJECT  TO
   24  COMMUNITY  RATING.  SUCH  REGULATIONS  SHALL  BE  DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AN
   25  INSURANCE MARKETPLACE WHERE PREMIUMS DO NOT UNDULY  FLUCTUATE,  INSURERS
   26  AND  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATIONS ARE REASONABLY PROTECTED AGAINST
   27  UNEXPECTED, SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS IN THE NUMBER  OF  PERSONS  INSURED,  AND
   28  OTHER  MARKET  STABILITY  FEATURES DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE SUPERINTEN-
   29  DENT. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL NOT REQUIRE ANY INSURER OR  HEALTH  MAINTE-
   30  NANCE  ORGANIZATION  SUBJECT  TO  THIS  SECTION,  OR  ANY  SUBSIDIARY OR
   31  CONTROLLED PERSON OF A HOLDING COMPANY OF SUCH INSURER OR HEALTH MAINTE-
   32  NANCE ORGANIZATION, TO ENTER, CONTINUE TO CONDUCT OR WITHDRAW  FROM  ANY
   33  LINE  OF BUSINESS AS A CONDITION OF ENTERING, CONTINUING IN OR WITHDRAW-
   34  ING FROM ANY OTHER LINE OF BUSINESS.
   35    (2) PRIOR TO  ADOPTING  SUCH  REGULATIONS,  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  SHALL
   36  CONVENE A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY FIRST, TWO
   37  THOUSAND  TEN,  TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SUPERINTEN-
   38  DENT ON ISSUES INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO,  VOLUNTARY  REINSURANCE,
   39  POOLING,  RISK  SHARING,  THE  ESTABLISHMENT OF A HIGH RISK OR HIGH COST
   40  MEDICAL CONDITIONS POOL, THE MODERATION OF INITIAL  COMMUNITY  RATES  AS
   41  COMPARED TO PRIOR RATES, OR PREMIUM STABILIZATION METHODS. THE TECHNICAL
   42  ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPRISED OF NINE MEMBERS, ONE OF WHOM SHALL
   43  BE  THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE. THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS
   44  OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL CHAIR THE COMMITTEE AND SHALL  APPOINT  TWO  OTHER
   45  MEMBERS  TO THE COMMITTEE. THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE
   46  SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY SHALL EACH APPOINT THREE MEMBERS TO THE  COMMIT-
   47  TEE.    THE  APPOINTEES  SHALL  BE  REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMERCIAL HEALTH
   48  INSURERS, NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH INSURERS, HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZA-
   49  TIONS AND PURCHASERS OF INSURANCE AND SHALL BE NAMED NO LATER THAN JANU-
   50  ARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN.  IN ADDITION, THE SUPERINTENDENT MAY OBTAIN
   51  THE SERVICES OF AN ACTUARY WITH EXPERIENCE RELATING TO PREMIUM RATES AND
   52  MARKET STABILIZATION FOR SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE.
   53    (3)  (A) SUCH REGULATIONS MAY INCLUDE REINSURANCE OR A POOLING PROCESS
   54  INVOLVING INSURER CONTRIBUTIONS TO, OR RECEIPTS FROM, A FUND WHICH SHALL
   55  BE DESIGNED TO SHARE THE RISK OF OR EQUALIZE HIGH COST CLAIMS, CLAIMS OF
   56  HIGH COST PERSONS, COST VARIATIONS AMONG INSURERS AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE
       S. 648                              4
    1  ORGANIZATIONS BASED UPON DEMOGRAPHIC  FACTORS  OF  THE  PERSONS  INSURED
    2  WHICH  CORRELATE  WITH SUCH COST VARIATIONS DESIGNED TO PROTECT INSURERS
    3  FROM DISPROPORTIONATE ADVERSE RISKS OF OFFERING COVERAGE TO  ALL  APPLI-
    4  CANTS;  PROVIDED THAT SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL RELATE ONLY TO RISK SHARING
    5  AMONG INSURERS AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND SHALL NOT CREATE
    6  DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNITY RATES CHARGED BY A  SINGLE  INSURER  BECAUSE  A
    7  SMALL  GROUP'S  COVERAGE  HAS  BEEN REINSURED OR POOLED, AND NEITHER THE
    8  SMALL EMPLOYER NOR THE EMPLOYEE SHALL HAVE REASON  TO  KNOW  THAT  THEIR
    9  COVERAGE HAS BEEN REINSURED OR POOLED PURSUANT TO SUCH REGULATIONS.
   10    (B)  SUCH REGULATIONS MAY SPECIFY THE AGGREGATE TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY
   11  HEALTH MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  INSURERS  BASED  UPON  SPECIFIED
   12  MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH MAY BE INCREASED BY THE AGGREGATE TOTAL AMOUNT
   13  OF SAVINGS RESULTING FROM DECREASED CONTRIBUTIONS CALCULATED PURSUANT TO
   14  REGULATIONS BASED UPON DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS.
   15    (C)  SUCH  REGULATIONS  MAY INCLUDE A REINSURANCE OR A POOLING PROCESS
   16  INVOLVING INSURER AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTIONS  TO,
   17  OR RECEIPTS FROM, A FUND WHICH SHALL BE DESIGNED TO SHARE THE RISK OF OR
   18  EQUALIZE  HIGH  COST CLAIMS OR THE CLAIMS OF HIGH COST PERSONS; PROVIDED
   19  THAT SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL RELATE ONLY TO RISK SHARING  AMONG  INSURERS
   20  AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND SHALL NOT CREATE DIFFERENCES IN
   21  COMMUNITY RATES CHARGED BY A SINGLE INSURER OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGAN-
   22  IZATION  BECAUSE  A SMALL GROUP'S COVERAGE HAS BEEN REINSURED OR POOLED,
   23  AND NEITHER THE INDIVIDUAL NOR THE SMALL EMPLOYER NOR THE EMPLOYEE SHALL
   24  HAVE REASON TO KNOW THAT THEIR COVERAGE HAS  BEEN  REINSURED  OR  POOLED
   25  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH  REGULATIONS. SUCH REGULATIONS MAY ALSO INCLUDE OTHER
   26  MECHANISMS DESIGNED TO SHARE RISKS OR PREVENT UNDUE VARIATIONS IN INSUR-
   27  ER AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION CLAIM COSTS WHICH ARE NOT RELATED
   28  TO EXPECTED DIFFERENCES IN INSURER AND HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION
   29  COSTS  BASED  UPON  COMPETITION, INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY OF OPERATION.
   30  THE REGULATIONS MAY SEGREGATE ANY REINSURANCE, POOLING OR OTHER  PROCESS
   31  AMONG VARIOUS GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE STATE.
   32    (D)  IN  ORDER  TO  PROMULGATE  RULES AND REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE
   33  PROVISIONS OF THIS  SUBSECTION  IN  AN  ORDERLY  MANNER  THAT  HELPS  TO
   34  INCREASE  THE  AVAILABILITY  OF  HEALTH  INSURANCE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE
   35  SMALL GROUP MARKET, INCLUDING THOSE PERSONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PLACED IN
   36  THE INDIVIDUAL OR DIRECT PAY MARKET, THE  TECHNICAL  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE
   37  SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO:
   38    (I)  FORMULATE,  DEVELOP,  AND  IMPLEMENT  A PROGRAM OR METHODOLOGY TO
   39  ESTABLISH A HIGH RISK OR HIGH COST MEDICAL  CONDITIONS  POOL  AND  SMALL
   40  GROUP STOP LOSS FUND TO REIMBURSE NINETY PERCENT OF ALL BONA FIDE CLAIMS
   41  ABOVE SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PAID BY HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZA-
   42  TIONS  AND INSURERS IN A CALENDAR YEAR FOR ANY MEMBER OR INSURED COVERED
   43  IN THE NEW SMALL GROUP MARKET ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF
   44  THE CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINE THAT ADDED THIS SUBSECTION.
   45  ALL APPROVED CLAIMS PAID ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS OR INSUREDS COVERED IN THE
   46  NEW  SMALL GROUP MARKET BY HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSURERS
   47  THAT ARE ABOVE THE SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR THRESHOLD SHALL BE REIM-
   48  BURSABLE, AS FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE, FROM THE STOP LOSS  FUNDS  ESTAB-
   49  LISHED  PURSUANT  TO SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN OF
   50  THIS CHAPTER, THE STOP LOSS FUNDS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS  FOUR
   51  THOUSAND  THREE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE-A  AND  FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
   52  TWENTY-TWO-A OF THIS CHAPTER.
   53    (II) COORDINATE THE ISSUANCE OF NEW SMALL GROUP POLICIES OR  CONTRACTS
   54  ISSUED AND RATED PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER WITH CONTRACTS ISSUED PURSUANT
   55  TO SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER.
       S. 648                              5
    1    (III)  DEVELOP  A MECHANISM TO SHIFT ALL PERSONS COVERED BY INDIVIDUAL
    2  CONTRACTS OR POLICIES PAID ON A DIRECT PAYMENT BASIS ISSUED PURSUANT  TO
    3  THIS  ARTICLE  AND SECTIONS FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FOUR, FOUR THOU-
    4  SAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE AND FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO
    5  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  TO  THE  NEW SMALL GROUP MARKET BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO
    6  THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
    7    (IV) DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT CONTRACTS ISSUED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTIONS
    8  FOUR  THOUSAND  THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE AND FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
    9  TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER WILL CONTINUE TO  BE  NEEDED  AND  ISSUED  TO
   10  ADEQUATELY  SATISFY  THE INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS OF ALL SEGMENTS
   11  OF THIS STATE'S POPULATION. FURTHER, THE COMMITTEE SHALL MAKE  RECOMMEN-
   12  DATIONS  TO  THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER
   13  OF THE ASSEMBLY BY JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE ON  THE  ADVISABILITY
   14  OF  REPEALING  SECTIONS  FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FOUR, FOUR THOUSAND
   15  THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE AND FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED  TWENTY-TWO  OF
   16  THIS CHAPTER AND PROHIBITING THE ISSUANCE OF NEW DIRECT PAY CONTRACTS OR
   17  POLICIES  TO  ANY  MEMBERS OR INSUREDS AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
   18  THIRTEEN OR PERMITTING ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE INDIVIDUAL  DIRECT  PAY
   19  CONTRACTS  OR POLICIES ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE AND SECTIONS FOUR
   20  THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FOUR, FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  AND
   21  FOUR  THOUSAND  THREE  HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER BEFORE JANUARY
   22  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND  THIRTEEN  TO  CONTINUE  TO  RENEW  OR  RETAIN  SUCH
   23  CONTRACTS OR POLICIES AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN.
   24    (V)  DEVELOP  PROGRAMS  OR  METHODOLOGIES  TO  ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE
   25  MEDICAL CARE SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL PERSONS PLACED IN A HIGH RISK  OR
   26  HIGH  COST  MEDICAL  CONDITIONS  POOL. SUCH PROGRAM OR METHODOLOGY SHALL
   27  ENSURE THAT SUCH PERSONS RECEIVE APPROPRIATE AND COST EFFECTIVE  MEDICAL
   28  CARE  AND  THAT THE LEVEL AND UTILIZATION OF BENEFITS PROVIDED FOR UNDER
   29  SUCH CONTRACTS OR POLICIES ARE ADEQUATE TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS OR CHRON-
   30  IC MEDICAL CONDITIONS FACED BY SUCH PERSONS.
   31    (E)(I) THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A PUBLIC BODY  FOR
   32  THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE
   33  SEVEN  OF  THE  PUBLIC  OFFICERS  LAW.  ALL  COMMITTEE MEETINGS SHALL BE
   34  CONDUCTED ONLY AFTER FOURTEEN DAYS PRIOR PUBLIC NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO
   35  THE NEWS MEDIA GENERALLY AND PUBLISHED IN THREE STATEWIDE NEWSPAPERS  OF
   36  GENERAL  CIRCULATION,  IN  SUCH TRADE, INDUSTRY OR PROFESSIONAL PUBLICA-
   37  TIONS AS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL DESIGNATE, AND IN THE STATE REGIS-
   38  TER.
   39    (II) THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL ISSUE A  REPORT  THAT  CONTAINS  ITS
   40  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS PROVIDED FOR PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION
   41  TO  THE  GOVERNOR,  TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE
   42  ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN.
   43    (III) THE SUPERINTENDENT IN  PROMULGATING  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  TO
   44  IMPLEMENT  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS SUBSECTION AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP
   45  LOSS FUND, MUST RELY ON THE FINDINGS AND  RECOMMENDATIONS  CONTAINED  IN
   46  THE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE'S  REPORT, UNLESS HE OR SHE FINDS ON THE RECORD
   47  THAT SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD DESTABILIZE THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET,
   48  INSTIGATE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PREMIUM RATES OR SUBJECT INSURERS AND
   49  HEALTH MAINTENANCE   INSURERS  TO  UNACCEPTABLE  LOSS  RATIOS  OVER  THE
   50  INITIAL TWO YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
   51    (IV)  THE  SUPERINTENDENT,  IN  PROMULGATING  RULES AND REGULATIONS TO
   52  IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS  SUBSECTION,  SHALL  CONDUCT  AT  LEAST
   53  THREE  SEPARATE  PUBLIC  HEARINGS  (NOTICE  WHEREOF  SHALL  BE  GIVEN AS
   54  PROVIDED IN ITEM (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH) IN  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  THE
   55  STATE  ACCEPT  PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT AND THE PROPOSED
   56  RULEMAKING SUBMITTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT  TO  THE  STATE  REGISTER  TO
       S. 648                              6
    1  IMPLEMENT  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION, IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE
    2  REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE  ACT;  PROVIDED  THAT
    3  THERE  NEED  BE  NO  DUPLICATION  OF  PERFORMANCE  IN COMPLYING WITH THE
    4  PROVISIONS  OF THIS ITEM AND THOSE OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
    5  ACT.
    6    (E) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE AND SECTIONS  FOUR  THOUSAND  THREE
    7  HUNDRED  FOUR,  FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE AND FOUR THOUSAND
    8  THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER AND ALL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS OR
    9  POLICIES PAID ON A DIRECT PAYMENT BASIS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS  CHAPTER
   10  SHALL  REMAIN  IN  EFFECT ON AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIR-
   11  TEEN; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT, AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND  THIR-
   12  TEEN,  NO ADDITIONAL NEW CONTRACTS OR POLICIES MAY BE ISSUED TO INDIVID-
   13  UALS THAT DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO  SUCH  CONTRACTS  OR  POLICIES  PRIOR  TO
   14  DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE.  ALL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS OR
   15  POLICIES  IN  FORCE  PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, OR SECTIONS FOUR THOUSAND
   16  THREE HUNDRED FOUR, FOUR THOUSAND  THREE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE  AND  FOUR
   17  THOUSAND  THREE  HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER AFTER DECEMBER THIR-
   18  TY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE SHALL CONTINUE TO BE COMMUNITY RATED  WITH
   19  OTHER  GROUPS  OF  ONE  AS  PROVIDED  FOR BY SECTIONS THREE THOUSAND TWO
   20  HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE AND FOUR THOUSAND THREE  HUNDRED  SEVENTEEN  OF  THIS
   21  CHAPTER  AS SAID SECTIONS THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE AND FOUR
   22  THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN WERE IN EFFECT PRIOR TO  THE  EFFECTIVE
   23  DATE  OF  THE  CHAPTER  OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINE THAT ADDED THIS
   24  SUBSECTION. HOLDERS OF ALL SUCH CONTRACTS OR  POLICIES  SHALL  HAVE  THE
   25  RIGHT  TO  RENEW AND CONTINUE THEIR CONTRACTS OR POLICIES UNDER THE SAME
   26  TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNTIL JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
   27    S 4. Subparagraph (O) of paragraph 4 of subsection (j) of section 4301
   28  of the insurance law, as added by section 8 of part A of  chapter  1  of
   29  the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
   30    (O) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall direct
   31  that  such proceeds of the public asset are disbursed in accordance with
   32  direction from the director of the division of  the  budget  and  trans-
   33  ferred  to  the  credit of the tobacco control and insurance initiatives
   34  pool, or its successor to be used for the  exclusive  purposes  provided
   35  therein,  AND  TO THE STOP LOSS FUNDS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
   36  (D) OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF  THIS  CHAPTER
   37  AND SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
   38    S 5. Section 4321-a of the insurance law, as added by chapter 1 of the
   39  laws of 1999, paragraph 2 of subsection (e) as amended by chapter 419 of
   40  the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
   41    S  4321-a.  Fund  for  standardized individual enrollee direct payment
   42  contracts. (a) The superintendent shall  establish  a  fund  from  which
   43  health  maintenance  organizations  may  receive  reimbursement,  to the
   44  extent of funds available therefor, for claims paid by such health main-
   45  tenance organizations for members covered under standardized  individual
   46  enrollee  direct payment contracts issued pursuant to section four thou-
   47  sand three hundred twenty-one of this article AND FOR  ALL  SMALL  GROUP
   48  POLICES  OR  CONTRACTS  ISSUED AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE.
   49  The fund established by the  superintendent  pursuant  to  this  section
   50  shall  be  known  as  the  direct  payment stop loss fund. Commencing in
   51  calendar year two thousand, health maintenance  organizations  shall  be
   52  eligible to receive reimbursement from the direct payment stop loss fund
   53  for  ninety  percent  of  claims  paid  between  twenty thousand and one
   54  hundred thousand dollars in a calendar year for any member covered under
   55  a contract issued pursuant to section four thousand three hundred  twen-
   56  ty-one  of  this  article  AND FOR ALL SMALL GROUP POLICIES OR CONTRACTS
       S. 648                              7
    1  ISSUED AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE.   For the  purposes  of
    2  this  section,  claims shall include health care claims paid by a health
    3  maintenance organization on behalf of a covered member pursuant to  such
    4  standardized  direct  payment  contracts  OR  A  SMALL  GROUP  POLICY OR
    5  CONTRACT.
    6    (b) The superintendent  shall  promulgate  regulations  setting  forth
    7  procedures  for  the  operation of the direct payment stop loss fund AND
    8  THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF
    9  SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER and  the
   10  distribution of monies therefrom.
   11    (c)  Claims  shall  be  reported  and  funds shall be distributed on a
   12  calendar year basis. Claims shall be eligible for reimbursement only for
   13  the calendar year in which the claims are  paid.  Once  claims  paid  on
   14  behalf  of  a  member  reach or exceed one hundred thousand dollars in a
   15  given calendar year, no further claims paid on behalf of such member  in
   16  such calendar year shall be eligible for reimbursement.
   17    (d)  Each  health  maintenance organization shall submit a request for
   18  reimbursement from the stop loss fund on a form prescribed by the super-
   19  intendent. Such request for reimbursement shall be  submitted  no  later
   20  than  April  first  following the end of the calendar year for which the
   21  reimbursement request is being  made.  The  superintendent  may  require
   22  health   maintenance   organizations  to  submit  such  claims  data  in
   23  connection with the reimbursement request as he OR SHE  deems  necessary
   24  to  enable  him OR HER to distribute monies and oversee the operation of
   25  the direct payment stop loss fund AND THE SMALL GROUP  STOP  LOSS  FUND.
   26  The  superintendent  may  require  that  such data be submitted on a per
   27  member, aggregate and/or categorical basis.
   28    (e) The superintendent shall calculate the total claims  reimbursement
   29  amount  for  all  health maintenance organizations for the calendar year
   30  for which claims are being reported.
   31    (1) In the event that the total amount requested for reimbursement  by
   32  all  health  maintenance organizations for a calendar year exceeds funds
   33  available for distribution for claims paid  by  all  health  maintenance
   34  organizations  during  that same calendar year, the superintendent shall
   35  provide for the pro-rata  distribution  of  the  available  funds.  Each
   36  health  maintenance  organization shall be eligible to receive only such
   37  proportionate amount of the available funds  as  the  individual  health
   38  maintenance organization's total eligible claims paid bears to the total
   39  eligible claims paid by all health maintenance organizations.
   40    (2)  In the event that (A) funds available for distribution for claims
   41  paid by all health maintenance  organizations  during  a  calendar  year
   42  exceeds the total amount requested for reimbursement by all health main-
   43  tenance  organizations during that same calendar year, and (B) the total
   44  amount requested for reimbursement by all health  maintenance  organiza-
   45  tions  from  the  direct  payment out-of-plan stop loss fund exceeds the
   46  amount available for distribution from such fund, then any excess  funds
   47  shall  be reallocated for distribution to the direct payment out-of-plan
   48  stop loss fund AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP  LOSS  FUND.    Otherwise,  such
   49  excess  funds shall be carried forward and will not affect monies appro-
   50  priated for the direct payment stop loss fund in the next calendar year.
   51    (f) Upon the request of the superintendent,  each  health  maintenance
   52  organization  shall  be required to furnish such data as the superinten-
   53  dent deems necessary to oversee the operation of the direct payment stop
   54  loss fund. Such data shall be furnished in  a  form  prescribed  by  the
   55  superintendent.
       S. 648                              8
    1    (g)  The  superintendent may obtain the services of an organization to
    2  administer the direct payment stop loss fund. The  superintendent  shall
    3  establish  guidelines  for  the submission of proposals by organizations
    4  for the purposes of administering the  fund.  The  superintendent  shall
    5  make a determination whether to approve, disapprove or recommend modifi-
    6  cation to the proposal of an applicant to administer the fund. An organ-
    7  ization  approved  to  administer  the  fund shall submit reports to the
    8  superintendent in such form and at times  as  may  be  required  by  the
    9  superintendent  in  order  to  facilitate  evaluation and ensure orderly
   10  operation of the fund, including, but not limited to an annual report of
   11  the affairs and operations of the fund, such report to be  delivered  to
   12  the superintendent and to the chairs of the senate finance committee and
   13  assembly  ways and means committee. An organization approved to adminis-
   14  ter the fund shall maintain records in a form prescribed by  the  super-
   15  intendent  and  which  shall  be  available  for inspection by or at the
   16  request of the superintendent. The superintendent  shall  determine  the
   17  amount  of  compensation  to be allocated to an approved organization as
   18  payment for fund administration. Compensation shall be payable from  the
   19  direct  payment  stop  loss fund. An organization approved to administer
   20  the fund may be removed by the superintendent and must cooperate in  the
   21  orderly  transition  of  services to another approved organization or to
   22  the superintendent.
   23    (h) If the superintendent deems it appropriate for the proper adminis-
   24  tration of the direct payment stop loss fund, the administrator  of  the
   25  fund,  on  behalf  of and with the prior approval of the superintendent,
   26  shall be authorized to purchase stop loss insurance  and/or  reinsurance
   27  from  an  insurance  company licensed to write such type of insurance in
   28  this state. Such stop loss insurance and/or reinsurance may be purchased
   29  to the extent of funds available therefor within such  funds  which  are
   30  available for purposes of the stop loss fund.
   31    (I)  AS INDIVIDUALS TRANSFER FROM THE STANDARDIZED INDIVIDUAL ENROLLEE
   32  DIRECT PAYMENT CONTRACTS TO  THE  SMALL  GROUP  MARKET,  AN  ACTUARIALLY
   33  APPROPRIATE AMOUNT, AS DETERMINED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, SHALL BE TRANS-
   34  FERRED  FROM  THE  DIRECT PAYMENT STOP LOSS FUND TO THE SMALL GROUP STOP
   35  LOSS FUND.
   36    S 6. Section 4322-a of the insurance law, as added by chapter 1 of the
   37  laws of 1999, paragraph 2 of subsection (e) as amended by chapter 419 of
   38  the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
   39    S 4322-a. Fund for standardized  individual  enrollee  direct  payment
   40  contracts  which  provide  out-of-plan  benefits. (a) The superintendent
   41  shall establish a fund from which health maintenance  organizations  may
   42  receive  reimbursement,  to  the extent of funds available therefor, for
   43  claims paid by such health maintenance organizations for members covered
   44  under standardized individual enrollee direct  payment  contracts  which
   45  provide  out-of-plan  benefits  issued pursuant to section four thousand
   46  three hundred twenty-two of this article AND FOR ALL SMALL  GROUP  POLI-
   47  CIES  OR CONTRACTS ISSUED AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE.  The
   48  fund established by the superintendent pursuant to this section shall be
   49  known as "the direct payment out-of-plan stop loss fund". Commencing  in
   50  calendar  year  two  thousand, health maintenance organizations shall be
   51  eligible to receive reimbursement from the  direct  payment  out-of-plan
   52  stop loss fund for ninety percent of claims paid between twenty thousand
   53  and  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a calendar year for any member
   54  covered under a contract issued pursuant to section four thousand  three
   55  hundred  twenty-two  of this article AND FOR ALL SMALL GROUP POLICIES OR
   56  CONTRACTS ISSUED AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND  TWELVE.    For  the
       S. 648                              9
    1  purposes  of  this section, claims shall include health care claims paid
    2  by a health maintenance organization  on  behalf  of  a  covered  member
    3  pursuant  to  contracts  issued  pursuant to section four thousand three
    4  hundred twenty-two of this article OR A SMALL GROUP POLICY OR CONTRACT.
    5    (b)  The  superintendent  shall  promulgate regulations that set forth
    6  procedures for the operation of the direct payment out-of-plan stop loss
    7  fund AND  THE  SMALL  GROUP  STOP  LOSS  FUND  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO
    8  SUBSECTION  (D)  OF  SECTION  THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF
    9  THIS CHAPTER and the distribution of monies therefrom.
   10    (c) Claims shall be reported and  funds  shall  be  distributed  on  a
   11  calendar year basis. Claims shall be eligible for reimbursement only for
   12  the  calendar  year  in  which  the claims are paid. Once claims paid on
   13  behalf of a member reach or exceed one hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a
   14  given  calendar year, no further claims paid on behalf of such member in
   15  that calendar year shall be eligible for reimbursement.
   16    (d) Each health maintenance organization shall submit  a  request  for
   17  reimbursement from the stop loss fund on a form prescribed by the super-
   18  intendent.  Such  request  for reimbursement shall be submitted no later
   19  than April first following the end of the calendar year  for  which  the
   20  reimbursement  request  is  being  made.  The superintendent may require
   21  health  maintenance  organizations  to  submit  such  claims   data   in
   22  connection  with  the reimbursement request as he OR SHE deems necessary
   23  to enable him OR HER to distribute monies and oversee the  operation  of
   24  the  direct  payment out-of-plan stop loss fund AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP
   25  LOSS FUND.  The superintendent may require that such data  be  submitted
   26  on a per member, aggregate and/or categorical basis.
   27    (e)  The superintendent shall calculate the total claims reimbursement
   28  amount for all health maintenance organizations for  the  calendar  year
   29  for which claims are being reported.
   30    (1)  In the event that the total amount requested for reimbursement by
   31  all health maintenance organizations for a calendar year  exceeds  funds
   32  available  for  distribution  for  claims paid by all health maintenance
   33  organizations during that same calendar year, the  superintendent  shall
   34  provide  for  the  pro-rata  distribution  of  the available funds. Each
   35  health maintenance organization shall be eligible to receive  only  such
   36  proportionate  amount  of  the  available funds as the individual health
   37  maintenance organization's total eligible  claims  bears  to  the  total
   38  eligible claims paid by all health maintenance organizations.
   39    (2)  In the event that (A) funds available for distribution for claims
   40  paid by all health maintenance  organizations  during  a  calendar  year
   41  exceeds the total amount requested for reimbursement by all health main-
   42  tenance  organizations during that same calendar year, and (B) the total
   43  amount requested for reimbursement by all health  maintenance  organiza-
   44  tions  from  the direct payment stop loss fund exceeds the amount avail-
   45  able for distribution from such fund, then any  excess  funds  shall  be
   46  reallocated  for  distribution  to the direct payment stop loss fund AND
   47  THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND.  Otherwise, such excess funds  shall  be
   48  carried  forward  and  shall  not affect the monies appropriated for the
   49  direct payment out-of-plan stop loss fund in the next calendar year.
   50    (f) Upon the request of the superintendent,  each  health  maintenance
   51  organization  shall  be required to furnish such data as the superinten-
   52  dent deems necessary to oversee the  operation  of  the  direct  payment
   53  out-of-plan  stop  loss  fund.  Such  data  shall be furnished in a form
   54  prescribed by the superintendent.
   55    (g) The superintendent may obtain the services of an  organization  to
   56  administer  the  direct  payment  out-of-plan stop loss fund. The super-
       S. 648                             10
    1  intendent shall establish guidelines for the submission of proposals  by
    2  organizations  for  the  purposes of administering the fund.  The super-
    3  intendent shall make a determination whether to approve,  disapprove  or
    4  recommend modification to the proposal of an applicant to administer the
    5  fund.  An  organization  approved  to  administer  the fund shall submit
    6  reports to the superintendent in such  form  and  at  times  as  may  be
    7  required  by  the  superintendent  in order to facilitate evaluation and
    8  ensure orderly operation of the fund, including, but not limited to,  an
    9  annual  report of the affairs and operations of the fund, such report to
   10  be delivered to the superintendent and  to  the  chairs  of  the  senate
   11  finance committee and assembly ways and means committee. An organization
   12  approved  to  administer  the  fund  shall  maintain  records  in a form
   13  prescribed by the  superintendent  and  which  shall  be  available  for
   14  inspection  by  or at the request of the superintendent. The superinten-
   15  dent shall determine the amount of compensation to be  allocated  to  an
   16  approved  organization  as payment for fund administration. Compensation
   17  shall be payable from the direct payment out-of-plan stop loss fund.  An
   18  organization  approved  to  administer  the  fund  may be removed by the
   19  superintendent and must cooperate in the orderly transition of  services
   20  to another approved organization or to the superintendent.
   21    (h) If the superintendent deems it appropriate for the proper adminis-
   22  tration  of  the direct payment out-of-plan stop loss fund, the adminis-
   23  trator of the fund, on behalf of and with  the  prior  approval  of  the
   24  superintendent,  shall  be  authorized  to  purchase stop loss insurance
   25  and/or reinsurance from an insurance company licensed to write such type
   26  of insurance in this state. Such stop loss insurance and/or  reinsurance
   27  may  be  purchased to the extent of funds available therefor within such
   28  funds which are available for purposes of the stop loss fund.
   29    (I) AS INDIVIDUALS TRANSFER FROM THE STANDARDIZED INDIVIDUAL  ENROLLEE
   30  DIRECT PAYMENT CONTRACTS WHICH PROVIDE OUT-OF-PLAN BENEFITS TO THE SMALL
   31  GROUP  MARKET,  AN  ACTUARIALLY APPROPRIATE AMOUNT, AS DETERMINED BY THE
   32  SUPERINTENDENT, SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DIRECT PAYMENT OUT-OF-PLAN
   33  STOP LOSS FUND TO THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND.
   34    S 7. The section heading and subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f),
   35  (h), (i), (q) and (r) of section 4327 of the insurance law, as added  by
   36  chapter  1 of the laws of 1999, subsection (h) as amended by chapter 419
   37  of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as follows:
   38    Stop loss funds for standardized health insurance contracts issued  to
   39  qualifying  small  employers  and  qualifying  individuals AND THE SMALL
   40  GROUP MARKET.  (a) The superintendent shall establish a fund from  which
   41  health  maintenance  organizations, corporations or insurers may receive
   42  reimbursement, to the extent of funds  available  therefor,  for  claims
   43  paid  by such health maintenance organizations, corporations or insurers
   44  for members covered under qualifying group  health  insurance  contracts
   45  issued pursuant to section THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS
   46  CHAPTER  AND  SECTIONS  FOUR  THOUSAND  THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN AND four
   47  thousand three hundred twenty-six of this article. This  fund  shall  be
   48  known  as  the "small employer stop loss fund". The superintendent shall
   49  establish a separate and distinct fund  from  which  health  maintenance
   50  organizations,  corporations  or  insurers may receive reimbursement, to
   51  the extent of funds available therefor, for claims paid by  such  health
   52  maintenance  organizations, corporations or insurers for members covered
   53  under qualifying individual health insurance contracts  issued  pursuant
   54  to  section four thousand three hundred twenty-six of this article. This
   55  fund shall be known as the "qualifying individual stop loss fund".
       S. 648                             11
    1    (b) Commencing on January first, two thousand one, health  maintenance
    2  organizations,  corporations  or  insurers  shall be eligible to receive
    3  reimbursement for ninety percent of claims paid between thirty  thousand
    4  and  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a calendar year for any member
    5  covered  under  a  standardized contract issued pursuant to section four
    6  thousand three hundred twenty-six of this article OR A CONTRACT OR POLI-
    7  CY ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  OF
    8  THIS  CHAPTER  OR  SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THIS
    9  ARTICLE, PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION  (D)
   10  OF  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   11  Claims paid for members covered under qualifying group health  insurance
   12  contracts  shall be reimbursable from the small employer stop loss fund.
   13  Claims paid for  members  covered  under  qualifying  individual  health
   14  insurance contracts shall be reimbursable from the qualifying individual
   15  stop loss fund; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT, IN CONSULTA-
   16  TION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, MAY TRANSFER AN ACTUARIALLY APPRO-
   17  PRIATE  AMOUNT  OF  FUNDS FROM THE SMALL EMPLOYER STOP LOSS FUND AND THE
   18  QUALIFYING INDIVIDUAL STOP LOSS FUND TO ESTABLISH THE SMALL  GROUP  STOP
   19  LOSS  FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF SECTION THREE THOU-
   20  SAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.  For the purposes of this
   21  section, claims shall include health care claims paid by a health  main-
   22  tenance  organization  on  behalf  of  a covered member pursuant to such
   23  standardized contracts.
   24    (c) The superintendent shall promulgate  regulations  that  set  forth
   25  procedures for the operation of the small employer stop loss fund [and],
   26  the  qualifying individual stop loss fund, AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS
   27  FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND
   28  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-THREE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER and distribution of monies
   29  therefrom.
   30    (d) The small employer stop loss fund shall  operate  separately  from
   31  the  qualifying  individual  stop  loss  fund.  Except  as  specified in
   32  subsection (b) of this section with respect to calendar year  two  thou-
   33  sand  one,  the  level  of  stop  loss coverage for the qualifying group
   34  health insurance contracts and the qualifying individual  health  insur-
   35  ance contracts need not be the same. The two stop loss funds need not be
   36  structured  or  operated in the same manner, except as specified in this
   37  section. The monies available for distribution from the stop loss  funds
   38  may  be reallocated between the small employer stop loss fund [and], the
   39  qualifying individual stop loss fund, AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND
   40  ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND  TWO
   41  HUNDRED  THIRTY-THREE  OF  THIS CHAPTER if the superintendent determines
   42  that such reallocation is warranted due to enrollment trends.
   43    (e) Claims shall be reported and funds shall be distributed  from  the
   44  small employer stop loss fund [and], from the qualifying individual stop
   45  loss  fund,  AND  THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
   46  SUBSECTION (D) OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-THREE  OF
   47  THIS  CHAPTER  on  a  calendar  year basis. Claims shall be eligible for
   48  reimbursement only for the calendar year in which the claims  are  paid.
   49  Once  claims  paid  on  behalf  of  a covered member reach or exceed one
   50  hundred thousand dollars in a given calendar  year,  no  further  claims
   51  paid  on  behalf  of such member in that calendar year shall be eligible
   52  for reimbursement.
   53    (f) Each health maintenance organization, corporation or insurer shall
   54  submit a request for reimbursement from each of the stop loss  funds  on
   55  forms  prescribed  by  the  superintendent.  Each  of  the  requests for
   56  reimbursement shall be submitted no later than April first following the
       S. 648                             12
    1  end of the calendar year for which the reimbursement requests are  being
    2  made.  The  superintendent may require health maintenance organizations,
    3  corporations or insurers to submit such claims data in  connection  with
    4  the reimbursement requests as he OR SHE deems necessary to enable him OR
    5  HER to distribute monies and oversee the operation of the small employer
    6  and  qualifying individual stop loss funds AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS
    7  FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND
    8  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-THREE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER.    The superintendent may
    9  require that such data be submitted on a per  member,  aggregate  and/or
   10  categorical  basis.  Data  shall  be  reported separately for qualifying
   11  group health insurance contracts  [and],  qualifying  individual  health
   12  insurance  contracts  issued  pursuant  to  section  four thousand three
   13  hundred twenty-six of this article, AND SMALL GROUP CONTRACTS  OR  POLI-
   14  CIES ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF
   15  THIS CHAPTER AND SECTION FOUR THOUSAND SEVENTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
   16    (h)  Upon  the  request of the superintendent, each health maintenance
   17  organization shall be required to furnish such data as  the  superinten-
   18  dent  deems necessary to oversee the operation of the small employer and
   19  qualifying individual stop loss funds AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND
   20  ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND  TWO
   21  HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.  Such data shall be furnished in a
   22  form prescribed by the superintendent. Each health maintenance organiza-
   23  tion,  corporation  or  insurer  shall  provide  the superintendent with
   24  monthly reports of the  total  enrollment  under  the  qualifying  group
   25  health  insurance  contracts and the qualifying individual health insur-
   26  ance contracts issued pursuant to section four  thousand  three  hundred
   27  twenty-six of this article. The reports shall be in a form prescribed by
   28  the superintendent.
   29    (i) The superintendent shall separately estimate the per member annual
   30  cost  of  total  claims  reimbursement  from each OF THE THREE stop loss
   31  [fund for qualifying individual health insurance contracts and for qual-
   32  ifying group health insurance contracts] FUNDS based upon available data
   33  and appropriate actuarial assumptions. Upon request, each health mainte-
   34  nance organization, corporation or insurer shall furnish to  the  super-
   35  intendent claims experience data for use in such estimations.
   36    (q)  The  superintendent may obtain the services of an organization to
   37  administer the stop loss funds established by this section AND THE SMALL
   38  GROUP STOP LOSS FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D)  OF  SECTION
   39  THREE  THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.  If the super-
   40  intendent deems it appropriate, he or she may utilize a separate  organ-
   41  ization  for  administration of the small employer stop loss fund [and],
   42  the qualifying individual stop loss fund, AND THE SMALL GROUP STOP  LOSS
   43  FUND  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO SUBSECTION (D) OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND
   44  TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS  CHAPTER.    The  superintendent  shall
   45  establish  guidelines  for  the submission of proposals by organizations
   46  for the purposes of administering the funds.  The  superintendent  shall
   47  make a determination whether to approve, disapprove or recommend modifi-
   48  cation  to  the  proposal  of  an  applicant to administer the funds. An
   49  organization approved to administer the funds shall  submit  reports  to
   50  the  superintendent  in such form and at times as may be required by the
   51  superintendent in order to  facilitate  evaluation  and  ensure  orderly
   52  operation  of the funds, including, but not limited to, an annual report
   53  of the affairs and operations of the fund, such report to  be  delivered
   54  to  the superintendent and to the chairs of the senate finance committee
   55  and the assembly ways and means committee. An organization  approved  to
   56  administer  the funds shall maintain records in a form prescribed by the
       S. 648                             13
    1  superintendent and which shall be available for inspection by or at  the
    2  request  of  the  superintendent. The superintendent shall determine the
    3  amount of compensation to be allocated to an  approved  organization  as
    4  payment  for fund administration. Compensation shall be payable from the
    5  stop loss coverage funds. An organization  approved  to  administer  the
    6  funds  may  be  removed  by the superintendent and must cooperate in the
    7  orderly transition of services to another approved  organization  or  to
    8  the superintendent.
    9    (r) If the superintendent deems it appropriate for the proper adminis-
   10  tration  of  the  small employer stop loss fund [and/or], the qualifying
   11  individual stop loss fund, OR THE SMALL GROUP STOP LOSS FUND ESTABLISHED
   12  PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWO  HUNDRED  THIR-
   13  TY-THREE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER, the administrator of the fund, on behalf of
   14  and with the prior approval of the superintendent, shall  be  authorized
   15  to  purchase  stop  loss  insurance and/or reinsurance from an insurance
   16  company licensed to write such type of insurance  in  this  state.  Such
   17  stop loss insurance and/or reinsurance may be purchased to the extent of
   18  funds  available  therefor  within  such  funds  which are available for
   19  purposes of the stop loss funds established by this section.
   20    S 8. This act shall take effect immediately;  provided  that  sections
   21  one  and  two  of  this  act  shall  take effect on January 1, 2012; and
   22  provided further that the superintendent of insurance is authorized  and
   23  directed to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions
   24  of  this act, which rules and regulations must be adopted and filed with
   25  the secretary of state by October 1, 2011. This act shall apply  to  all
   26  policies  and  contracts  of health insurance issued, renewed, modified,
   27  altered or amended on or after January 1, 2012.
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