AB445: Bill Text

AB445,29,25 3. Fully integrating the treatment for physical conditions, alcohol or other drug abuse, and mental illness.

AB445,30,5 4. Reducing the cost of the county departments under ss. 51.42 and 51.437 to taxpayers by avoiding unnecessary overlap between the improved coverage of alcohol or other drug abuse treatment or mental illness treatment by health plans offered through the exchange and the services provided by county departments under s. 51.42 or 51.437.

AB445,30,8 (v) Review the rate of premium growth within the exchange and outside the exchange, and consider the information in developing recommendations on whether to continue limiting qualified employer status to small employers.

AB445,30,11 (w) Credit the amount of any free choice voucher to the monthly premium of the plan in which a qualified employee is enrolled, in accordance with section 10108 of the federal act, and collect the amount credited from the offering employer.

AB445,30,13 (x) Consult with stakeholders relevant to carrying out the activities required under this chapter, including any of the following:

AB445,30,14 1. Educated health care consumers who are enrollees in qualified health plans.

AB445,30,16 2. Individuals and entities with experience in facilitating enrollment in qualified health plans.

AB445,30,17 3. Representatives of small businesses and self-employed individuals.

AB445,30,18 4. The department of health services.

AB445,30,19 5. Advocates for enrolling hard-to-reach populations.

AB445,30,20 (y) Meet all of the following financial integrity requirements:

AB445,30,23 1. Keep an accurate accounting of all activities, receipts, and expenditures and annually submit to the secretary, the governor, the commissioner, and the legislature a report concerning such accountings.

AB445,31,2 2. Fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the secretary under the secretary's authority under the federal act and allow the secretary, in coordination with the inspector general of the federal department of health and human services, to do all of the following:

AB445,31,3 a. Investigate the affairs of the authority.

AB445,31,4 b. Examine the properties and records of the authority.

AB445,31,6 c. Require periodic reports in relation to the activities undertaken by the authority.

AB445,31,13 3. In carrying out its activities under this chapter, not use any funds intended for the administrative and operational expenses of the authority for staff retreats, promotional giveaways, excessive executive compensation, or promotion of federal or state legislative or regulatory modifications, except that this subdivision does not prohibit the authority from advocating, as part of administering the exchange, for policies that the authority determines are in the best interest of the exchange or of individuals and employees receiving coverage through the exchange.

AB445,31,15 (2) The authority may do all of the following relating to the exchange under s. 636.25 (1):

AB445,31,17 (a) Contract with a 3rd-party administrator for the provision of services on behalf of the exchange.

AB445,31,18 (b) Establish risk adjustment mechanisms for the exchange.

AB445,31,19 (c) Enter into agreements with or establish sub-exchanges.

AB445,31,21 (d) Create any other exchange, or component of the exchange, that is provided for under federal law.

AB445,31,25 (3) The authority shall seek grants to the fullest extent to which it is eligible, including amounts under section 1311 (a) (1) and (4) of the federal act, or other funding from the federal or state government for which it may be eligible and from private foundations for the purpose of the exchange under s. 636.25 (1).

AB445,32,2 636.42 Health benefit plan certification. (1) The authority may certify a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan if all of the following are true:

AB445,32,6 (a) The plan provides the essential health benefits package described in section 1302 (a) of the federal act, except that the plan is not required to provide essential benefits that duplicate the minimum benefits of qualified dental plans, as provided in sub. (5), if all of the following are satisfied:

AB445,32,8 1. The authority has determined that at least one qualified dental plan is available to supplement the plan's coverage.

AB445,32,13 2. The health carrier makes prominent disclosure at the time it offers the plan, in a form approved by the authority, that the plan does not provide the full range of essential pediatric benefits and that qualified dental plans providing those benefits and other dental benefits not covered by the plan are offered through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1).

AB445,32,15 (b) The premium rates and contract language have been filed with and not disapproved by the commissioner.

AB445,32,19 (c) The plan provides at least a bronze level of coverage, as determined under s. 636.30 (1) (e), unless the plan is certified as a qualified catastrophic plan, meets the requirements of the federal act for catastrophic plans, and will only be offered to individuals eligible for catastrophic coverage.

AB445,32,23 (d) The plan's cost-sharing requirements do not exceed the limits established under section 1302 (c) (1) of the federal act and, if the plan is offered through the SHOP Exchange, the plan's deductible does not exceed the limits established under section 1302 (c) (2) of the federal act.

AB445,32,24 (e) The health carrier offering the plan satisfies all of the following:

AB445,33,2 1. Is licensed and in good standing to offer health insurance coverage in this state.

AB445,33,6 2. Offers at least one qualified health plan in the silver level and at least one qualified health plan in the gold level through each component of the exchange in which the health carrier participates. In this subdivision, “component" refers to the SHOP Exchange or the exchange under s. 636.25 for individual coverage.

AB445,33,9 3. Charges the same premium rate for each qualified health plan without regard to whether the plan is offered directly from the health carrier or through an insurance intermediary.

AB445,33,11 4. Does not charge any cancellation fees or penalties in violation of s. 636.25 (3).

AB445,33,13 5. Complies with the regulations developed by the secretary under section 1311 (d) of the federal act and such other requirements as the authority may establish.

AB445,33,19 (f) The plan meets the requirements of certification as required by any rules promulgated under s. 636.46 (1) and by the secretary under section 1311 (c) of the federal act, including minimum standards in the areas of marketing practices, network adequacy, essential community providers in underserved areas, accreditation, quality improvement, uniform enrollment forms, and descriptions of coverage and information on quality measures for health benefit plan performance.

AB445,33,22 (g) The authority determines that making the plan available through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1) is in the interest of qualified individuals and qualified employers in this state.

AB445,33,24 (2) The authority shall not exclude a health benefit plan for any of the following reasons or in any of the following ways:

AB445,33,25 (a) On the basis that the plan is a fee-for-service plan.

AB445,34,1 (b) Through the imposition of premium price controls by the authority.

AB445,34,4 (c) On the basis that the plan provides treatments necessary to prevent patients' deaths in circumstances the authority determines are inappropriate or too costly.

AB445,34,6 (3) The authority shall require each health carrier seeking certification of a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan to do all of the following:

AB445,34,12 (a) Submit a justification for any premium increase before implementation of that increase. The health carrier shall prominently post the information on its Internet site. The authority shall take this information, along with the information and the recommendations provided to the authority by the commissioner under 42 USC 300gg-94 (b), into consideration when determining whether to allow the health carrier to make the plan available through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1).

AB445,34,15 (b) 1. Make available to the public, in the format described in subd. 2., and submit to the authority, the secretary, and the commissioner, accurate and timely disclosure of all of the following:

AB445,34,16 a. Claims payment policies and practices.

AB445,34,17 b. Periodic financial disclosures.

AB445,34,18 c. Data on enrollment.

AB445,34,19 d. Data on disenrollment.

AB445,34,20 e. Data on the number of claims that are denied.

AB445,34,21 f. Data on rating practices.

AB445,34,23 g. Information on cost sharing and payments with respect to any out-of-network coverage.

AB445,34,24 h. Information on enrollee and participant rights under title I of the federal act.

AB445,34,25 i. Other information as determined appropriate by the secretary.

AB445,35,2 2. The information required in subd. 1. shall be provided in plain language, as that term is defined in section 1311 (e) (3) (B) of the federal act.

AB445,35,9 (c) Permit individuals to learn, in a timely manner upon the request of the individual, the amount of cost sharing, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, under the individual's plan or coverage that the individual would be responsible for paying with respect to the furnishing of a specific item or service by a participating provider. At a minimum, this information shall be made available to the individual through an Internet site and through other means for individuals without access to the Internet.

AB445,35,14 (4) The authority may not exempt any health carrier seeking certification of a health benefit plan as a qualified health plan, regardless of the type or size of the health carrier, from state licensure or solvency requirements and shall apply the criteria of this section in a manner that assures equitable treatment of all health carriers participating in the exchange under s. 636.25 (1).

AB445,35,18 (5) (a) The provisions of this chapter that are applicable to qualified health plans shall also apply to the extent relevant to qualified dental plans, except as modified in accordance with pars. (b), (c), and (d) or by regulations adopted by the authority.

AB445,35,20 (b) The health carrier shall be licensed to offer dental coverage, but need not be licensed to offer other health benefits.

AB445,36,2 (c) The plan shall be limited to dental and oral health benefits, without substantially duplicating the benefits typically offered by health benefit plans without dental coverage, and shall include, at a minimum, the essential pediatric dental benefits prescribed by the secretary under section 1302 (b) (1) (J) of the federal act and such other dental benefits as the authority or the secretary may specify by regulation.

AB445,36,7 (d) Health carriers may jointly offer a comprehensive plan through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1) in which the dental benefits are provided by a health carrier through a qualified dental plan and the other benefits are provided by a health carrier through a qualified health plan, provided that the plans are priced separately and are also made available for purchase separately at the same price.

AB445,36,13 636.43 Insurer requirements. (1) Any health carrier that is authorized to do business in this state in one or more lines of insurance that includes health insurance may offer health benefit plans through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1). After the exchange becomes operational, no health carrier may offer or issue a health benefit plan in this state to an individual or to a small employer except through the exchange.

AB445,36,16 (2) For the purpose of determining premiums, a health carrier may pool together all individuals and employees who have coverage under all of the qualified health plans issued by the health carrier through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1).

AB445,36,20 (3) A health carrier that offers qualified health plans through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1) shall establish a toll-free hotline for providing information to enrollees and other individuals and shall furnish such reasonable reports as the authority determines necessary for the administration of the exchange.

AB445,36,24 (4) The authority may audit any health carrier that provides coverage under a qualified health plan through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1) for the purpose of ensuring that the health carrier is providing covered individuals with the benefits provided for under this subchapter in a manner that does all of the following:

AB445,36,25 (a) Complies with the provisions of this chapter.

AB445,37,1 (b) Promotes positive health outcomes.

AB445,37,2 (c) Advances value-based and evidence-based medical practices.

AB445,37,5 (d) Avoids unnecessary operating and capital costs arising from inappropriate utilization or inefficient delivery of health care services, unwarranted duplication of services and infrastructure, or creation of excess care delivery capacity.

AB445,37,6 (e) Holds down the growth of health care costs.

AB445,37,14 636.44 Intermediaries. An insurance intermediary that enrolls a qualified individual in a qualified health plan through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1) shall be paid a commission by the health carrier offering the qualified health plan. An insurance intermediary that enrolls the employees of a qualified employer in one or more qualified health plans through the exchange shall be paid a commission by each health carrier offering a qualified health plan selected by an employee of the qualified employer. The authority shall determine the commission amounts that must be paid to intermediaries under this section.

AB445,37,19 636.45 Funding; publication of costs. (1) For payment of administrative expenses, the authority may impose a surcharge on each health carrier offering qualified health plans through the exchange under s. 636.25 (1). The surcharge shall be based on the health carrier's total premium or flat dollar amount per enrollee collected through the exchange.

AB445,37,23 (2) The authority shall publish the average costs of licensing, regulatory fees, and any other payments required by the authority, and the administrative costs of the authority, on an Internet site to educate consumers on such costs. This information shall include information on moneys lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.

AB445,38,2 636.46 Rules; application form. (1) The commissioner may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. Rules promulgated under this section may not conflict with or prevent the application of regulations promulgated by the secretary under the federal act.

AB445,38,4 (2) The commissioner shall develop a standard application form for use in the exchange.

AB445,38,11 636.48 Relation to other laws. Nothing in this chapter, and no action taken by the authority under this chapter, shall be construed to preempt or supersede the authority of the commissioner to regulate the business of insurance within this state. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this chapter, all health carriers offering qualified health plans in this state shall comply fully with all applicable health insurance laws of this state and rules promulgated and orders issued by the commissioner.

AB445,38,13 Subchapter III badger Health benefit authority

AB445,38,24 636.70 Creation and organization of authority. (1) There is created a public body corporate and politic to be known as the “Badger Health Benefit Authority." The board of directors of the authority shall consist of the commissioner, or his or her designee; the secretary of employee trust funds, or his or her designee; the person who is appointed by the secretary of health services to be the director of the Medical Assistance program, or his or her designee; the executive director, or his or her designee, of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, if that organization exists; the executive director, or his or her designee, of the Wisconsin Health Information Organization, if that organization exists; and all of the following members, who shall be nominated by the governor and, with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed for 3-year terms except as provided in sub. (2):

AB445,38,25 (a) A member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries.

AB445,39,1 (b) A health economist.

AB445,39,2 (c) An employee benefits specialist.

AB445,39,3 (d) A representative of small employers.

AB445,39,4 (e) A representative of an organization that represents consumer interests.

AB445,39,5 (f) A representative of organized labor.

AB445,39,6 (g) An individual with experience in health care administration.

AB445,39,10 (2) No member of the board appointed under sub. (1) (a) to (g) may be a health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hp); an employee of a health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1) (i) to (p); an employee of an insurer that is authorized to do business in the state; or an insurance intermediary.

AB445,39,13 (3) A vacancy on the board under sub. (1) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to the board for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any.

AB445,39,17 (4) A member of the board under sub. (1) shall receive no compensation for services under this chapter but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the discharge of the member's duties under this chapter.

AB445,39,23 (5) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall be the chairperson of the board under sub. (1). Seven members of the board constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business and exercising the powers of the authority, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancy. The board may take action upon a vote of a majority of the members present, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.