AB5: Bill Text

LRB-0691/2

PJK:lmk:pg

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 5

January 13, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Gielow, Davis, Gard, Loeffelholz, Ott, Ainsworth, Albers, Freese, Friske, Gronemus, Gunderson, Hahn, Hines, Hubler, Hundertmark, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kestell, Krawczyk, LeMahieu, Lothian, McCormick, Meyer, Musser, Nass, Nelson, Nerison, Nischke, Pettis, Stone, Strachota, Towns, Underheim, Van Roy, Vos, Vrakas, Vukmir and M. Williams, cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Darling, Brown, Grothman, Hansen, Jauch, Lassa, Miller and Stepp. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB5,1,2 An Act to amend 185.99 (2) (a), 185.99 (5) (title) and 185.99 (6) of the statutes; relating to: health benefit purchasing cooperatives.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, before January 1, 2008, one nonstock health benefit purchasing cooperative (cooperative) may be organized in each of five geographic areas of the state that are designated by the Commissioner of Insurance (commissioner) by order. The purpose of the cooperatives is to provide health care benefits to the employees, members, and officers of the members of each cooperative and to their dependents through a three-year contract with an insurer. Each cooperative must submit to the legislature and to the commissioner an annual report on the progress of the health benefit purchasing arrangement and, within a year after the end of the three-year contract term, a report on the significant findings from the project, including the effects on group heath care coverage premiums and the number of uninsured in the geographic area of the cooperative.

This bill removes certain limits on the project. Under the bill, the commissioner may designate any number of geographic areas of the state in which cooperatives may be organized, and any number of cooperatives may be organized in each geographic area to provide health care benefits to their employees, members, and officers of the members and to their dependents. In addition, the cooperatives are no longer required to be organized before January 1, 2008. All other features of the project are the same as under current law.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB5, s. 1 Section 1. 185.99 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB5,2,6 185.99 (2) (a) Notwithstanding s. 185.02, one health benefit purchasing cooperative cooperatives may be organized under this chapter before January 1, 2008, in each of the 5 geographic areas designated under sub. (6). Notwithstanding s. 185.043, each a health benefit purchasing cooperative may be formed by one or more persons.

AB5, s. 2 Section 2. 185.99 (5) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB5,2,8 185.99 (5) (title) Additional required Required reports.

AB5, s. 3 Section 3. 185.99 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB5,2,14 185.99 (6) Designation of geographic areas. After consultation with the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, the commissioner shall designate, by order, the 5 geographic areas of the state in which health benefit purchasing cooperatives may be organized. A geographic area may overlap with one or more other geographic areas.

AB5,2,15 (End)