The State of Wisconsin in 1981 established a Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP) to make health insurance coverage available to medically uninsured residents of the state. One type of medical coverage provided by HIRSP is the Major Medical Plan. This type of coverage is called Plan 1. Eighty-four percent of the 8,427 HIRSP policies in effect in March 2000 were of the Plan 1 type. Plan 1 has Option A ($1,000 deductible) or Option B ($2,500 deductible). The average premium rate increase for Plan 1 contained in these updated HIRSP rules is 12.4%. Rate increases for specific policyholders range from 3.5% to 15%, depending on a policyholder's age, gender, household income, deductible and zone of residence within Wisconsin. The average 12.4% rate increase for Plan 1 is the minimum increase necessary to maintain premiums at the lowest level permitted by law.
A second type of coverage provided by HIRSP is supplemental coverage for persons eligible for Medicare. This type of coverage is called Plan 2. Plan 2 has a $500 deductible. Sixteen percent of the 8,427 HIRSP policies in effect in March 2000 were of the Plan 2 type. The average premium rate increase for Plan 2 contained in these updated HIRSP rules is 18.2%. Rate increases for specific policyholders range from 7.5% to 21%, depending on a policyholder's age, gender, household income, deductible and zone of residence within Wisconsin. These rate increases reflect industry-wide cost increases and adjust premiums to a level that more accurately reflects actual claim costs for Plan 2 policyholders.
The Department through these rules is amending two sections of the HIRSP program administrative rules:
1.
The Department is required to set premium rates by rule. The rules propose to update HIRSP premium rates in ch. HFS 119 in accordance with the authority and requirements set out in s. 149.143 (3) (a), Stats. Rates must be calculated in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles. Policyholders are to pay 60% of the costs of HIRSP. The HIRSP premium rate tables in ch. HFS 119 are updated in accordance with these principles and requirements, for the time-period beginning July 1, 2000.
2. The rules also propose to update the total HIRSP insurer assessments and provider payment rates in accordance with the authority and requirements set out in s. 149.143 (2) (a) 3. and 4., Stats. With the approval of the HIRSP Board of Governors and as required by statute, the Department of Health and Family Services approved a methodology that reconciles HIRSP program costs, policyholder premiums, insurance assessments and collected health care provider contributions for the most recent calendar year. The adjustments to the insurer assessments and the provider payment rates, contained in the updated HIRSP administrative rules for the time-period beginning July 1, 2000, are the result of this reconciliation process for calendar year 1999.
Identical emergency rules were published and became effective on July 1, 2000.
Contact Information
To find out more about the hearing or to request a copy of the proposed rules, write or phone:
Randy McElhose
Division of Health Care Financing
P.O. Box 309, Room 355
Madison, WI 53701-0309
Telephone (608) 267-7127 or,
if you are hearing impaired, (608) 266-1511 (TTY)
If you are hearing or visually impaired, do not speak English, or have other personal circumstances which might make communication at the hearing difficult and if you, therefore, require an interpreter, or a non-English, large-print or taped version of the hearing document, contact the person at the address or phone number above. A person requesting a non-English or sign language interpreter should make that request at least 10 days before the hearing. With less than 10 days notice, an interpreter may not be available.
Written Comments
Written comments on the proposed rule received at the above address no later than September 1, 2000 will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.
Fiscal Estimate
These rules update HIRSP policyholder premium rates effective July 1, 2000. They also update HIRSP insurer assessments and provider payment rates for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2000. These updates are being performed to reflect changing HIRSP costs, and in accordance with a statute-specified methodology, in order to offset program costs. Annual fiscal updates to the HIRSP rules generally take effect in July each year. The fiscal updates contained in these rules were developed by an independent actuarial firm and reviewed and approved by the HIRSP Board of Governors. By law, the Board is a diverse body composed of consumers, insurers, health care providers, small business and other affected parties.
The proposed changes are estimated to increase HIRSP program revenues by $7,562,292 in State Fiscal Year 2001. This amount is the combined result of an increase of $3,867,688 in insurance assessments, $345,754 in provider payments and $3,348,850 in premiums collected, for State Fiscal Year 2001. This increase in program revenue is expected to pay for a corresponding increase in HIRSP program expenditures for the payment of services provided in State Fiscal Year 2001. As a result, the net fiscal effect is projected to be zero. These rule changes will not, by themselves, affect the expenditures or revenues of local government. There is no local government involvement in the administration of HIRSP.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The rule changes will affect HIRSP policyholders, the Department of Health and Family Services and the Department's fiscal agent. The rule changes will not affect small businesses as “small business" is defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats. Although the program statutes and rules provide for assessment of insurers to help finance HIRSP, no assessed insurer is a small business as defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats. Moreover, s. 149.143, Stats., prescribes how the amount of an insurer's assessment to help finance HIRSP is to be determined and, similarly, how the health care provider payment rate is to be calculated.
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc, Chs. NR 1--)
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 20.370(3)(at), 23.33(4z)(a), 29.591(3), 227.11(2)(a) and 350.108(1), Stats., interpreting ss. 23.33(4z)(a), 23.33(5)(d), 29.563(11)(b)1., 29.591(1) and (3) and 350.108(1), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on the repeal of s. NR 64.09(3) and the creation of s. NR 19.50, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to ATV, snowmobile, bowhunter and hunter education fees. 1999 Wis. Act. 9 transferred authority from state statutes to administrative code to regulate student fees for the ATV education, snowmobile education and hunter education programs. The department fees have remained at $3.00 per student for several years. The proposed fee is an increase from $3 to $10 per student. Of this amount, the volunteer instructors would still be able to retain up to 50% of the student fee to cover incurred expenses. This proposal also standardizes the per student fee.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Notice is hereby further given that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.
Environmental Assessment
Notice is hereby further given that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
Hearing Information
August 28, 2000 Room 3000
Monday Health & Human Services Bldg.
at 11:00 a.m. 300 N. 4th Street
La Crosse
August 28, 2000 Room 158
Monday DNR Headquarters
at 4:00 p.m. 1300 Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire
August 29, 2000 DNR Office
Tuesday Basement Conf. Room
at 9:00 a.m. 810 W. Maple
Spooner
August 29, 2000 Conference Room
Tuesday DNR Office
at 3:00 p.m. 107 Sutliff Avenue
Rhinelander
September 1, 2000 Room 717
Friday GEF #2
at 10:00 a.m. 101 South Webster St.
Madison
Notice is hereby further given that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request, Please call Tim Lawhern at (608) 266-1317 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Contact Information
Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Tim Lawhern, Bureau of Law Enforcement, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than September 15, 2000. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearings. A copy of the proposed rule [LE-32-00] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Lawhern.
Fiscal Estimate
Annually there are approximately 30, 000 graduates of the hunter education program, 8,000 in the snowmobile and 2,000 in the ATV program. If 50% of the student fees collected are returned to the department based on a $10.00 per student fee, this would come to a total of $200,000 annually. This figure is a minimum. If the course expenses do not reach 50% of the student fee then the remainder must also be returned to the Department.
This provides no net increase in funding to the safety programs, but does represent an increase in the proportion of expenses funded by student fees.
Spending authority in the enforcement accounts was reduced by an equal amount under 1999 Wis. Act 9 so that there is no net increase in expenditure authority.
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
(Environmental Protection-
Investigation & Remediation
of Environmental Contamination
Chs. NR 700-)
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 227.11(2)(a) and 280.11, Stats., interpreting chs. 160, 280, 281 and 292, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 716, 726, 749, 811 and 812, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to implementation of a geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites for properties with groundwater contamination exceeding ch. NR 140 enforcement standards at the time of case closure. The proposed rule is needed to replace the current requirement for groundwater use restrictions on deeds when a remediated site is being closed with exceedances of ch. NR 140 groundwater enforcement standards. These changes will make more site specific information more easily available to well drillers, developers, bankers and property buyers. The rule changes include investigation and reporting requirements, closure submittal requirements, a revised fee to cover the costs of maintaining a Geographic Information System (GIS) to allow web based access to data for individual sites, requirements for well drillers to check the GIS database before constructing a well to determine if special well construction features are necessary and a setback distance for community water supply systems from sites with groundwater enforcement standard exceedances.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Notice is hereby further given that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.
Environmental Assessment
Notice is hereby further given that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
Hearing Information
August 15, 2000 Room 152A
Tuesday Green Bay State Office Bldg.
at 1:00 p.m. 200 N. Jefferson St.
Green Bay
August 16, 2000
Tuesday Public Library
at 1:00 p.m. 300 N. 1st Street
