2018 -- S 2785 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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LC005098/SUB A/2

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, Coyne, DiPalma, Goldin, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: April 05, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-50 of the General Laws entitled "Small Employer Health

Insurance Availability Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-50-19. Small business health options program (SHOP) innovation waiver.

     (a) As small business owners and sole proprietors are the life blood of this state's

economy, a recent change in the Federal Affordable Care Act effective on January 1, 2016, has

caused irreparable harm to the economic well-being of some small business owners and sole

proprietors by requiring them to secure health insurance coverage on the individual market as

opposed to securing health insurance coverage on the small group market.

     (b) The director of the department of administration, with assistance from the

commissioner of health insurance (OHIC), is authorized to seek a waiver under Section 1332 of

the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148, as amended by the Health

Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-152, for the purpose of allowing

businesses classified as self-employed and sole proprietors to purchase insurance in the small

group market through the Health Source RI for Employers small business health options program

(SHOP) and not be forced into the individual market. Submission of such a waiver application

shall be contingent upon an assessment by OHIC of the costs and impacts.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-18.5 of the General Laws entitled "Individual Health Insurance

Coverage" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18.5-11. Essential health benefits.-- Individual.

     (a) For the purposes of this title and/or chapter:

     (1) “Essential Health Benefits” means the following general categories and the items and

services covered within the following ten (10) categories described in 42 USC § 18022 in force as

of January 1, 2017 and implementing regulations and guidance. The commissioner, in his/her

discretion, shall periodically define a benchmark plan that is prevalent in the employer-sponsored

health insurance market in Rhode Island that is consistent with the provisions contained in

chapter 18 of title 27 and that includes at a minimum the following categories of benefits:

     (i) Ambulatory patient services;

     (ii) Emergency services;

     (iii) Hospitalization;

     (iv) Maternity and newborn care;

     (v) Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health

treatment;

     (vi) Prescription drugs;

     (vii) Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices;

     (viii) Laboratory services;

     (ix) Preventive services, wellness services and chronic disease management; and

     (x) Pediatric services, including oral and vision care;

     (2) "Coverage of preventive services" means those services described in 42 USC §

300gg-13 in force as of January 1, 2017 and implementing regulations and guidance. Preventive

services shall be covered without any cost sharing for the enrollee when delivered by in-network

providers, as those terms and obligations are therein described. The commissioner shall have the

authority to promulgate implementing regulations consistent with this chapter to ensure

compliance with 26 USC § 223.

     (b) A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, issued

for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state by a health insurance company licensed

pursuant to this title and/or chapter shall provide coverage of at least the ten (10) essential health

benefits categories set forth in this section and shall further provide coverage of preventive

services from in-network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance,

or other cost sharing, as set forth in this section. The commissioner shall have the authority to

promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter, including the authority to

not approve any plan that they determine does not appropriately comply with or substantially

provide for the essential health benefits and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing

requirements set forth in this section.

LC005098/SUB A/2 - Page 2 of 4

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-50 of the General Laws entitled "Small Employer Health

Insurance Availability Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-50-18. Essential health benefits.-- Small employer.

      A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, issued for

delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state by a health insurance company licensed

pursuant to this title and/or chapter shall provide coverage of at least the ten (10) essential health

benefits categories set forth at § 27-18.5-11 and shall further provide coverage of preventive

services from in-network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance,

or other cost sharing, set forth at § 27-18.5-11. The commissioner shall have the authority to

promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter, including the authority to

not approve any plan that he/she determines does not appropriately comply with or substantially

provide for the essential health benefits and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing

requirements set forth at § 27-18.5-11.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-18.6 of the General Laws entitled "Large Group Health

Insurance Coverage" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18.6-13. Essential health benefits.

     A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, issued for

delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state by a health insurance company licensed

pursuant to this title and/or chapter shall provide coverage of at least the ten (10) essential health

benefits categories set forth at 27-18.5-11 and shall further provide coverage of preventive

services from in-network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance,

or other cost sharing, set forth at § 27-18.5-11. The commissioner shall have the authority to

promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter, including the authority to

not approve any plan that he/she determines does not appropriately comply with or substantially

provide for the essential health benefits and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing

requirements set forth at § 27-18.5-11.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

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     This act would authorize the state to seek a waiver under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

to allow qualified small business owners and sole proprietors to purchase insurance in the small

group market contingent on a cost and impact assessment by the office of the health insurance

commissioner (OHIC). This act would further provide that health insurance plans provide

coverage for essential health benefit categories and preventive services without cost sharing

which are consistent with the Rhode Island benchmark plan.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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