2012 -- H 7797

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LC01819

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE - MANDATED BENEFITS

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Reilly, Newberry, Ehrhardt, and Costa

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2012

     Referred To: House Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-69 of the General Laws entitled "Mandated Benefits" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-69-4.1. Mandated benefit review. -- (a) The general assembly finds that this state has

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in excess of sixty-five (65) health insurance coverages which are mandated to be included in

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health insurance policies sold in the state. The average number of health insurance coverages

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required to be included in health insurance policies sold in the United States is forty-three (43).

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This state has the highest number of health insurance mandated coverages in the United States.

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Reducing the number of health insurance mandated coverages would reduce the cost of health

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insurance being paid by businesses located in the state and by state and local government.

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     (b) Legislative purpose. In order to reduce the cost to businesses located in the state and

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to the state and local governments it is necessary to create a commission with authority to reduce

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the number of health insurance mandated coverages and to determine the essential health

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insurance medical coverages required to be included in health insurance coverages sold in this

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state.

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     (c) Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, a commission shall be

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established to conduct a review of the impact of each existing or proposed state benefit mandate,

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either statutory or regulatory. Said commission shall be comprised of six (6) members, three (3)

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members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives with no more than two (2)

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members from the same political party, and three (3) members appointed by the president of the

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senate with no more than two (2) members from the same political party.

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     (d) The commission shall determine which essential insurance mandated coverages shall

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be required to be included in all health insurance policies sold in the state. The commission shall

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also create a list of health insurance mandated coverages required by statute or regulation which

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shall be eliminated due to the fact that such coverages are not essential. Such determination shall

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be included in a plan of essential health insurance mandated coverages to be submitted to the

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speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate within one year from the

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formation of the commission.

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     (e) The plan submitted to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of

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the senate shall be enforced by the department of business regulation unless any health insurance

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mandated coverage eliminated by the plan shall be reenacted by the general assembly within one

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year of the submission of the plan to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president

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of the senate.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01819

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE - MANDATED BENEFITS

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     This act would create a commission authorized to review and eliminate unneeded

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healthcare coverages, unless reenacted by the general assembly.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01819

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