2023 -- H 5426 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC001423/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Kislak, Donovan, Ajello, Morales, Carson, | |
Date Introduced: February 08, 2023 | |
Referred To: House Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 27-18.5-3, 27-18.5-4, 27-18.5-5, 27-18.5-6 and 27-18.5-10 of the |
2 | General Laws in Chapter 27-18.5 entitled "Individual Health Insurance Coverage" are hereby |
3 | amended to read as follows: |
4 | 27-18.5-3. Guaranteed availability to certain individuals. |
5 | (a) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this title to the contrary Subject to subsections |
6 | (b) through (i) of this section, all health insurance carriers that offer health insurance coverage in |
7 | the individual market in this state shall provide for the guaranteed availability of coverage to an |
8 | eligible individual or an individual who has had health insurance coverage, including coverage in |
9 | the individual market, or coverage under a group health plan or coverage under 5 U.S.C. § 8901 et |
10 | seq. and had that coverage continuously for at least twelve (12) consecutive months and who |
11 | applies for coverage in the individual market no later than sixty-three (63) days following |
12 | termination of the coverage, desiring to enroll in individual health insurance coverage, and who is |
13 | not eligible for coverage under a group health plan, part A or part B or title XVIII of the Social |
14 | Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq. or 42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq., or any state plan under title |
15 | XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq. (or any successor program) and does not |
16 | have other health insurance coverage (provided, that eligibility for the other coverage shall not |
17 | disqualify an individual with twelve (12) months of consecutive coverage if that individual applies |
18 | for coverage in the individual market for the primary purpose of obtaining coverage for a specific |
19 | pre-existing condition, and the other available coverage excludes coverage for that pre-existing |
| |
1 | condition) and any eligible applicant. For the purposes of this section, an "eligible applicant" means |
2 | any individual resident of this state. A carrier offering health insurance coverage in the individual |
3 | market shall offer to any eligible applicant in the state all health insurance coverage plans of that |
4 | carrier that are approved for sale in the individual market and shall accept any eligible applicant |
5 | that applies for coverage under those plans. A carrier may not: |
6 | (1) Decline to offer the coverage to, or deny enrollment of, the individual; or |
7 | (2) Impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to the coverage. |
8 | (b)(1) All health insurance carriers that offer health insurance coverage in the individual |
9 | market in this state shall offer all policy forms of health insurance coverage to all eligible |
10 | applicants. Provided, a carrier may offer plans with reduced cost sharing for qualifying eligible |
11 | applicants, based on available federal funds including those described by 42 U.S.C. § 18071, or |
12 | based on a program established with state funds. Provided, the carrier may elect to limit the |
13 | coverage offered so long as it offers at least two (2) different policy forms of health insurance |
14 | coverage (policy forms which have different cost-sharing arrangements or different riders shall be |
15 | considered to be different policy forms) both of which: |
16 | (i) Are designed for, made generally available to, and actively market to, and enroll both |
17 | eligible and other individuals by the carrier; and |
18 | (ii) Meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph as elected by the |
19 | carrier: |
20 | (A) If the carrier offers the policy forms with the largest, and next to the largest, premium |
21 | volume of all the policy forms offered by the carrier in this state; or |
22 | (B) If the carrier offers a choice of two (2) policy forms with representative coverage, |
23 | consisting of a lower-level coverage policy form and a higher-level coverage policy form each of |
24 | which includes benefits substantially similar to other individual health insurance coverage offered |
25 | by the carrier in this state and each of which is covered under a method that provides for risk |
26 | adjustment, risk spreading, or financial subsidization. |
27 | (2) For the purposes of this subsection, “lower-level coverage” means a policy form for |
28 | which the actuarial value of the benefits under the coverage is at least eighty-five percent (85%) |
29 | but not greater than one hundred percent (100%) of the policy form weighted average. |
30 | (3) For the purposes of this subsection, “higher-level coverage” means a policy form for |
31 | which the actuarial value of the benefits under the coverage is at least fifteen percent (15%) greater |
32 | than the actuarial value of lower-level coverage offered by the carrier in this state, and the actuarial |
33 | value of the benefits under the coverage is at least one hundred percent (100%) but not greater than |
34 | one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the policy form weighted average. |
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1 | (4) For the purposes of this subsection, “policy form weighted average” means the average |
2 | actuarial value of the benefits provided by all the health insurance coverage issued (as elected by |
3 | the carrier) either by that carrier or, if the data are available, by all carriers in this state in the |
4 | individual market during the previous year (not including coverage issued under this subsection), |
5 | weighted by enrollment for the different coverage. The actuarial value of benefits shall be |
6 | calculated based on a standardized population and a set of standardized utilization and cost factors. |
7 | (5) The carrier elections under this subsection shall apply uniformly to all eligible |
8 | individuals in this state for that carrier. The election shall be effective for policies offered during a |
9 | period of not shorter than two (2) years. |
10 | (c)(1) A carrier may deny health insurance coverage in the individual market to an eligible |
11 | individual applicant if the carrier has demonstrated to the director commissioner that: |
12 | (i) It does not have the financial reserves necessary to underwrite additional coverage; and |
13 | (ii) It is applying this subsection uniformly to all individuals in the individual market in |
14 | this state consistent with applicable state law and without regard to any health status-related factor |
15 | of the individuals and without regard to whether the individuals are eligible individuals. |
16 | (2) A carrier upon denying individual health insurance coverage in this state in accordance |
17 | with this subsection may not offer that coverage in the individual market in this state for a period |
18 | of one hundred eighty (180) days after the date the coverage is denied or until the carrier has |
19 | demonstrated to the director commissioner that the carrier has sufficient financial reserves to |
20 | underwrite additional coverage, whichever is later. |
21 | (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that a carrier offering health |
22 | insurance coverage only in connection with group health plans or through one or more bona fide |
23 | associations, or both, offer health insurance coverage in the individual market. |
24 | (e) A carrier offering health insurance coverage in connection with group health plans |
25 | under this title shall not be deemed to be a health insurance carrier offering individual health |
26 | insurance coverage solely because the carrier offers a conversion policy. |
27 | (f) Except for any high risk pool rating rules to be established by the Office of the Health |
28 | Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) as described in this section, nothing in this section shall be |
29 | construed to create additional restrictions on the amount of premium rates that a carrier may charge |
30 | an individual for health insurance coverage provided in the individual market; or to prevent a health |
31 | insurance carrier offering health insurance coverage in the individual market from establishing |
32 | premium rates or modifying applicable copayments or deductibles in return for adherence to |
33 | programs of health promotion and disease prevention. |
34 | (g) OHIC may pursue federal funding in support of the development of a high risk pool for |
| LC001423/SUB A - Page 3 of 13 |
1 | the individual market, as defined in § 27-18.5-2, contingent upon a thorough assessment of any |
2 | financial obligation of the state related to the receipt of said federal funding being presented to, and |
3 | approved by, the general assembly by passage of concurrent general assembly resolution. The |
4 | components of the high risk pool program, including, but not limited to, rating rules, eligibility |
5 | requirements and administrative processes, shall be designed in accordance with § 2745 of the |
6 | Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-45) also known as the State High Risk Pool Funding |
7 | Extension Act of 2006 and defined in regulations promulgated by the office of the health insurance |
8 | commissioner on or before October 1, 2007. |
9 | (h)(1) In the case of a health insurance carrier that offers health insurance coverage in the |
10 | individual market through a network plan, the carrier may limit the individuals who may be enrolled |
11 | under that coverage to those who live, reside, or work within the service areas for the network plan; |
12 | and within the service areas of the plan, deny coverage to individuals if the carrier has demonstrated |
13 | to the director that: |
14 | (i) It will not have the capacity to deliver services adequately to additional individual |
15 | enrollees because of its obligations to existing group contract holders and enrollees and individual |
16 | enrollees; and |
17 | (ii) It is applying this subsection uniformly to individuals without regard to any health |
18 | status-related factor of the individuals and without regard to whether the individuals are eligible |
19 | individuals. |
20 | (2) Upon denying health insurance coverage in any service area in accordance with the |
21 | terms of this subsection, a carrier may not offer coverage in the individual market within the service |
22 | area for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days after the coverage is denied. |
23 | (i) A carrier must allow an eligible applicant to enroll in coverage during: |
24 | (A) An open enrollment period to be established by the commissioner and held annually |
25 | for a period of between thirty (30) and sixty (60) days; |
26 | (B) Special enrollment periods as established in accordance with the version of 45 C.F.R. |
27 | § 147.104 in effect on January 1, 2023; and |
28 | (C) Any other open enrollment periods or special enrollment periods established by federal |
29 | or state law, rule or regulation. |
30 | 27-18.5-4. Continuation of coverage — Renewability. |
31 | (a) A health insurance carrier that provides individual health insurance coverage to an |
32 | individual in this state shall renew or continue in force that coverage at the option of the individual. |
33 | (b) A health insurance carrier may nonrenew non-renew or discontinue health insurance |
34 | coverage of an individual in the individual market based only on one or more of the following: |
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1 | (1) The individual has failed to pay premiums or contributions in accordance with the terms |
2 | of the health insurance coverage, including terms relating to or the carrier has not received timely |
3 | premium payments; |
4 | (2) The individual has performed an act or practice that constitutes fraud or made an |
5 | intentional misrepresentation of material fact under the terms of the coverage; |
6 | (3) The carrier is ceasing to offer coverage in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of |
7 | this section; |
8 | (4) In the case of a carrier that offers health insurance coverage in the market through a |
9 | network plan, the individual no longer resides, lives, or works in the service area (or in an area for |
10 | which the carrier is authorized to do business) but only if the coverage is terminated uniformly |
11 | without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals; or |
12 | (5) In the case of health insurance coverage that is made available in the individual market |
13 | only through one or more bona fide associations, the membership of the individual in the |
14 | association (on the basis of which the coverage is provided) ceases but only if the coverage is |
15 | terminated uniformly and without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals. |
16 | (c) In any case in which a carrier decides to discontinue offering a particular type of health |
17 | insurance coverage offered in the individual market, coverage of that type may be discontinued |
18 | only if: |
19 | (1) The carrier provides notice, to each covered individual provided coverage of this type |
20 | in the market, of the discontinuation at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of discontinuation of |
21 | the coverage; |
22 | (2) The carrier offers to each individual in the individual market provided coverage of this |
23 | type, the opportunity to purchase any other individual health insurance coverage currently being |
24 | offered by the carrier for individuals in the market; and |
25 | (3) In exercising this option to discontinue coverage of this type and in offering the option |
26 | of coverage under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the carrier acts uniformly without regard to |
27 | any health status-related factor of enrolled individuals or individuals who may become eligible for |
28 | the coverage. |
29 | (d) In any case in which a carrier elects to discontinue offering all health insurance |
30 | coverage in the individual market in this state, health insurance coverage may be discontinued only |
31 | if: |
32 | (1) The carrier provides notice to the director commissioner and to each individual of the |
33 | discontinuation at least one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date of the expiration of the |
34 | coverage; and |
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1 | (2) All health insurance issued or delivered in this state in the market is discontinued and |
2 | coverage under this health insurance coverage in the market is not renewed. |
3 | (e) In the case of a discontinuation under subsection (d) of this section, the carrier may not |
4 | provide for the issuance of any health insurance coverage in the individual market in this state |
5 | during the five (5) year period beginning on the date the carrier filed its notice with the department |
6 | to withdraw from the individual health insurance market in this state. This five (5) year period may |
7 | be reduced to a minimum of three (3) years at the discretion of the health insurance commissioner, |
8 | based on his/her analysis of market conditions and other related factors. |
9 | (f) The provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section do not apply if, at the time of |
10 | coverage renewal, a health insurance carrier modifies the health insurance coverage for a policy |
11 | form offered to individuals in the individual market so long as the modification is consistent with |
12 | this chapter and other applicable law and effective on a uniform basis among all individuals with |
13 | that policy form. |
14 | (g) In applying this section in the case of health insurance coverage made available by a |
15 | carrier in the individual market to individuals only through one or more associations, a reference |
16 | to an “individual” includes a reference to the association (of which the individual is a member). |
17 | 27-18.5-5. Enforcement — Limitation on actions. |
18 | The director commissioner has the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter in |
19 | accordance with § 42-14-16 and all other applicable laws. |
20 | 27-18.5-6. Rules and regulations. |
21 | The director commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate |
22 | the purposes of this chapter. |
23 | 27-18.5-10. Prohibition on preexisting condition exclusions. |
24 | (a) A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, issued for |
25 | delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state by a health insurance company licensed pursuant |
26 | to this title and/or chapter: shall not limit or exclude coverage for any individual by imposing a |
27 | preexisting condition exclusion on that individual. |
28 | (1) Shall not limit or exclude coverage for an individual under the age of nineteen (19) by |
29 | imposing a preexisting condition exclusion on that individual. |
30 | (2) For plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, shall not limit or exclude |
31 | coverage for any individual by imposing a preexisting condition exclusion on that individual. |
32 | (b) As used in this section:, (1) “Preexisting “preexisting condition exclusion” means a |
33 | limitation or exclusion of benefits, including a denial of coverage, based on the fact that the |
34 | condition (whether physical or mental) was present before the effective date of coverage, or if the |
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1 | coverage is denied, the date of denial, under a health benefit plan whether or not any medical advice, |
2 | diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received before the effective date of coverage. |
3 | (2) “Preexisting condition exclusion” means any limitation or exclusion of benefits, |
4 | including a denial of coverage, applicable to an individual as a result of information relating to an |
5 | individual’s health status before the individual’s effective date of coverage, or if the coverage is |
6 | denied, the date of denial, under the health benefit plan, such as a condition (whether physical or |
7 | mental) identified as a result of a pre-enrollment questionnaire or physical examination given to |
8 | the individual, or review of medical records relating to the pre-enrollment period. |
9 | (c) This section shall not apply to grandfathered health plans providing individual health |
10 | insurance coverage. |
11 | (d) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: (1) Hospital |
12 | confinement indemnity; (2) Disability income; (3) Accident only; (4) Long-term care; (5) Medicare |
13 | supplement; (6) Limited benefit health; (7) Specified disease indemnity; (8) Sickness or bodily |
14 | injury or death by accident or both; and (9) Other limited benefit policies. |
15 | SECTION 2. Chapter 27-18.5 of the General Laws entitled "Individual Health Insurance |
16 | Coverage" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
17 | 27-18.5-11. Essential health benefits -- Individual. |
18 | (a) The following words and phrases as used in this section have the following meanings |
19 | consistent with federal law and regulations adopted thereunder, as long as they remain in effect. If |
20 | such authorities are determined by the commissioner to no longer be in effect, the laws and |
21 | regulations in effect as of the date immediately prior to their legislative repeal or their being |
22 | declared invalid or nullified by final federal judicial or executive branch action, as identified by the |
23 | commissioner shall govern, unless a different meaning is required by the context: |
24 | (1) "Essential health benefits" means the following general categories, and the services |
25 | covered within those categories as defined pursuant to the processes described in 42 U.S.C. § 18022 |
26 | and implementing regulations and guidance: |
27 | (i) Ambulatory patient services; |
28 | (ii) Emergency services; |
29 | (iii) Hospitalization; |
30 | (iv) Maternity and newborn care; |
31 | (v) Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health |
32 | treatment; |
33 | (vi) Prescription drugs; |
34 | (vii) Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; |
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1 | (viii) Laboratory services; |
2 | (ix) Preventive services, wellness services, and chronic disease management; and |
3 | (x) Pediatric services, including oral and vision care. |
4 | (2) "Preventive services" means those services described in 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and |
5 | implementing regulations and guidance. |
6 | (b) If any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and |
7 | implementing regulations relating to coverage for essential health benefits and/or for preventive |
8 | services without cost sharing are determined by the commissioner to have been repealed or to have |
9 | been declared invalid or nullified by the final judgment of a federal court applicable to the state or |
10 | by executive or administrative action, which shall be deemed to include an action of the federal |
11 | executive or judicial branch that nullifies the effectiveness of the obligation to provide coverage |
12 | without cost sharing for a meaningful range of preventive services substantially similar to those |
13 | preventive services required under 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 as of January 1, 2023, then the following |
14 | shall apply: |
15 | (1) A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
16 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
17 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter shall provide coverage of at least the essential health |
18 | benefits categories set forth in this section, and shall further provide coverage of preventive services |
19 | from in-network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other |
20 | cost sharing, as described in 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and related regulations and guidance, including |
21 | existing exemptions, in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, revocation, or |
22 | nullification, as set forth above. |
23 | (2) To the extent that the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce revises its recommendations |
24 | with respect to grade "A" or "B" preventive services, or other expert advisory panel designated in |
25 | 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 similarly provides new or revised recommendations, the office of the health |
26 | insurance commissioner shall have the authority to issue guidance clarifying the services that shall |
27 | qualify as preventive services under this section, consistent with said recommendations and in |
28 | accordance with the processes as had been described by the version of 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13(b) |
29 | and related regulations and guidance in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, |
30 | revocation, or nullification, as set forth above. |
31 | (c) If a health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
32 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
33 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter, was not subject to the requirements described in |
34 | subsection (b) of this section prior to their repeal, revocation, or nullification, then such policy, |
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1 | contract, or plan shall remain so exempt and the provisions of this section shall not apply. |
2 | SECTION 3. Chapter 27-18.6 of the General Laws entitled "Large Group Health Insurance |
3 | Coverage" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
4 | 27-18.6-3.2. Preventative services. |
5 | (a) As used in this section, "preventive services" means those services described in 42 |
6 | U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and implementing regulations and guidance. |
7 | (b) If any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and |
8 | implementing regulations relating to preventive services without cost sharing are determined by |
9 | the commissioner to have been repealed or to have been declared invalid or nullified by the final |
10 | judgment of a federal court applicable to the state or by executive or administrative action, which |
11 | shall be deemed to include an action of the executive or judicial branch that nullifies the |
12 | effectiveness of the obligation to provide coverage without cost sharing for a meaningful range of |
13 | preventive services substantially similar to those in effect as of January 1, 2023, then the following |
14 | shall apply: |
15 | (1) A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
16 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
17 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter, shall provide coverage of preventive services from in- |
18 | network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost |
19 | sharing, as described in 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and related regulations and guidance, including |
20 | existing exemptions, in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, revocation, or |
21 | nullification, as set forth above. |
22 | (2) To the extent that the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce revises its recommendations |
23 | with respect to grade "A" or "B" preventive services or other expert advisory panel described in 42 |
24 | U.S.C. § 300gg-13, similarly provides new or revised recommendations the office of the health |
25 | insurance commissioner shall have the authority to issue guidance clarifying the services that shall |
26 | qualify as preventive services under this section, consistent with said recommendations, and in |
27 | accordance with the process as had been described by the version of 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13(b) and |
28 | related regulations and guidance in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, |
29 | revocation, or nullification, as set forth above. |
30 | (c) If a health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
31 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
32 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter, was not subject to the requirements described in |
33 | subsection (b) of this section prior to their repeal, revocation, or nullification, then such policy, |
34 | contract, or plan shall remain so exempt and the provisions of this section shall not apply. |
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1 | SECTION 4. Section 27-50-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-50 entitled "Small |
2 | Employer Health Insurance Availability Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 27-50-11. Administrative procedures. |
4 | The director shall issue commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to |
5 | effectuate the purposes of this chapter in accordance with chapter 35 of this title for the |
6 | implementation and administration of the Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act. |
7 | SECTION 5. Chapter 27-50 of the General Laws entitled "Small Employer Health |
8 | Insurance Availability Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
9 | 27-50-19. Essential health benefits. |
10 | (a) The following words and phrases as used in this section have the following meanings |
11 | consistent with federal law and regulations adopted thereunder, as long as they remain in effect. If |
12 | such authorities are determined by the commissioner to no longer be in effect, the laws and |
13 | regulations in effect as of the date immediately prior to their legislative repeal or their being |
14 | declared invalid or nullified by federal judicial or executive branch action, as identified by the |
15 | commissioner shall govern, unless a different meaning is required by the context: |
16 | (1) "Essential health benefits" means the following general categories, and the services |
17 | covered within those categories as defined pursuant to the processes described in 42 U.S.C. § 18022 |
18 | and implementing regulations and guidance: |
19 | (i) Ambulatory patient services; |
20 | (ii) Emergency services; |
21 | (iii) Hospitalization; |
22 | (iv) Maternity and newborn care; |
23 | (v) Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health |
24 | treatment; |
25 | (vi) Prescription drugs; |
26 | (vii) Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; |
27 | (viii) Laboratory services; |
28 | (ix) Preventive services, wellness services, and chronic disease management; and |
29 | (x) Pediatric services, including oral and vision care. |
30 | (2) "Preventative services" means those services described in 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and |
31 | implementing regulations and guidance. |
32 | (b) If any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and |
33 | implementing regulations relating to coverage for essential health benefits and/or for preventive |
34 | services without cost sharing are determined by the commissioner to have been repealed or to have |
| LC001423/SUB A - Page 10 of 13 |
1 | been declared invalid or nullified by the final judgment of a federal judicial branch applicable to |
2 | the state or by executive or administrative action, which shall be deemed to include an action of the |
3 | federal executive or judicial branch that nullifies the effectiveness of the obligation to provide |
4 | coverage without cost sharing for a meaningful range of preventive services substantially similar |
5 | to those preventive services required under 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 as of January 1, 2023, then the |
6 | following shall apply: |
7 | (1) A health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
8 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
9 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter shall provide coverage of at least the essential health |
10 | benefits categories set forth in this section, and shall further provide coverage of preventive services |
11 | from in-network providers without applying any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other |
12 | cost sharing, as described in 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 and related regulations and guidance, including |
13 | existing exemptions, in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, revocation, or |
14 | nullification, as set forth above. |
15 | (2) To the extent that the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce revises its recommendations |
16 | with respect to grade "A" or "B" preventive services, or other expert advisory panel designated in |
17 | 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 similarly provides new or revised recommendations, the office of health |
18 | insurance commissioner shall have the authority to issue guidance clarifying the services that shall |
19 | qualify as preventive services under this section, consistent with said recommendations and in |
20 | accordance with the processes as had been described by the version of 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13(b) |
21 | and related regulations and guidance in effect as of the date immediately prior to their repeal, |
22 | revocation, or nullification, as set forth above. |
23 | (c) If a health insurance policy, subscriber contract, or health plan offered, issued, renewed, |
24 | issued for delivery, or issued to cover a resident of this state, by a health insurance company |
25 | licensed pursuant to this title and/or chapter, was not subject to the requirements described in |
26 | subsection (b) of this section prior to their repeal, revocation, or nullification, then such policy, |
27 | contract, or plan shall remain so exempt and the provisions of this section shall not apply. |
28 | SECTION 6. Chapter 42-14.5 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Health Care |
29 | Reform Act of 2004 — Health Insurance Oversight" is hereby amended by adding thereto the |
30 | following section: |
31 | 42-14.5-3.1. Reporting changes in federal law. |
32 | If any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and/or its |
33 | implementing regulations relating to coverage for essential health benefits or preventive services |
34 | are determined by the commissioner to have been repealed or to have been declared invalid or |
| LC001423/SUB A - Page 11 of 13 |
1 | nullified by the final judgment of a federal court applicable to the state or by executive or |
2 | administrative action, which shall be deemed to include an action of the executive or judicial branch |
3 | that nullifies the effectiveness of the provision, such that the commissioner intends to take action |
4 | pursuant to the authority conferred on him or her pursuant to the authority granted by §§ 27-18.5- |
5 | 11, 27-18.6-3.2, or 27-50-18, the commissioner shall report to the general assembly as soon as |
6 | possible to describe the impact of the change and to make recommendations regarding consumer |
7 | protections, consumer choices, and stabilization and affordability of the Rhode Island insurance |
8 | market. |
9 | SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001423/SUB A - Page 12 of 13 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE | |
*** | |
1 | This act would provide guaranteed availability of coverage to any eligible individual |
2 | resident of this state. Coverage could not be limited or excluded by imposing a preexisting |
3 | condition exclusion. It would also require individual health insurers, large group health insurers |
4 | and small employer health insurers to provide coverage for ten (10) categories of essential health |
5 | benefits listed in the act. |
6 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC001423/SUB A | |
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| LC001423/SUB A - Page 13 of 13 |