BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to modifying time periods for adoption of health benefits and standards; amending RCW 43.72.090, 43.72.180, 70.47.020, and 70.47.060; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.72.090 and 1993 c 492 s 427 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On and after ((~~July 1~~)) December 31, 1995, no person or entity in this state shall provide the uniform benefits package and supplemental benefits as defined in RCW 43.72.010 without being certified as a certified health plan by the insurance commissioner.

(2) On and after ((~~July 1~~)) December 31, 1995, no certified health plan may offer less than the uniform benefits package to residents of this state and no registered employer health plan may provide less than the uniform benefits package to its employees and their dependents.

(3) The health services commission may authorize renewal or continuation until December 31, 1996, of health care service contracts, disability group insurance, or health maintenance policies in effect on December 31, 1995.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.72.180 and 1993 c 492 s 454 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature may disapprove of the uniform benefits package developed under RCW 43.72.130 and medical risk adjustment mechanisms developed under RCW 43.72.040(7) by an act of law at any time prior to the ((~~thirtieth~~)) last day of the following regular legislative session. If such disapproval action is taken, the commission shall resubmit a modified package to the legislature within fifteen days of the disapproval. If the legislature does not disapprove or modify the package by an act of law by the end of that regular session, the package is deemed approved.

Sec. 3. RCW 70.47.020 and 1994 c 309 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Washington basic health plan" or "plan" means the system of enrollment and payment on a prepaid capitated basis for basic health care services, administered by the plan administrator through participating managed health care systems, created by this chapter.

(2) "Administrator" means the Washington basic health plan administrator, who also holds the position of administrator of the Washington state health care authority.

(3) "Managed health care system" means any health care organization, including health care providers, insurers, health care service contractors, health maintenance organizations, or any combination thereof, that provides directly or by contract basic health care services, as defined by the administrator and rendered by duly licensed providers, on a prepaid capitated basis to a defined patient population enrolled in the plan and in the managed health care system. On and after ((~~July 1~~)) December 31, 1995, "managed health care system" means a certified health plan, as defined in RCW 43.72.010.

(4) "Subsidized enrollee" means an individual, or an individual plus the individual's spouse or dependent children, not eligible for medicare, who resides in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan, whose gross family income at the time of enrollment does not exceed twice the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services, who the administrator determines shall not have, or shall not have voluntarily relinquished health insurance more comprehensive than that offered by the plan as of the effective date of enrollment, and who chooses to obtain basic health care coverage from a particular managed health care system in return for periodic payments to the plan.

(5) "Nonsubsidized enrollee" means an individual, or an individual plus the individual's spouse or dependent children, not eligible for medicare, who resides in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan, who the administrator determines shall not have, or shall not have voluntarily relinquished health insurance more comprehensive than that offered by the plan as of the effective date of enrollment, and who chooses to obtain basic health care coverage from a particular managed health care system, and who pays or on whose behalf is paid the full costs for participation in the plan, without any subsidy from the plan.

(6) "Subsidy" means the difference between the amount of periodic payment the administrator makes to a managed health care system on behalf of a subsidized enrollee plus the administrative cost to the plan of providing the plan to that subsidized enrollee, and the amount determined to be the subsidized enrollee's responsibility under RCW 70.47.060(2).

(7) "Premium" means a periodic payment, based upon gross family income which an individual, their employer or another financial sponsor makes to the plan as consideration for enrollment in the plan as a subsidized enrollee or a nonsubsidized enrollee.

(8) "Rate" means the per capita amount, negotiated by the administrator with and paid to a participating managed health care system, that is based upon the enrollment of subsidized and nonsubsidized enrollees in the plan and in that system.

Sec. 4. RCW 70.47.060 and 1994 c 309 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The administrator has the following powers and duties:

(1) To design and from time to time revise a schedule of covered basic health care services, including physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, prescription drugs and medications, and other services that may be necessary for basic health care, which subsidized and nonsubsidized enrollees in any participating managed health care system under the Washington basic health plan shall be entitled to receive in return for premium payments to the plan. The schedule of services shall emphasize proven preventive and primary health care and shall include all services necessary for prenatal, postnatal, and well-child care. However, with respect to coverage for groups of subsidized enrollees who are eligible to receive prenatal and postnatal services through the medical assistance program under chapter 74.09 RCW, the administrator shall not contract for such services except to the extent that such services are necessary over not more than a one-month period in order to maintain continuity of care after diagnosis of pregnancy by the managed care provider. The schedule of services shall also include a separate schedule of basic health care services for children, eighteen years of age and younger, for those subsidized or nonsubsidized enrollees who choose to secure basic coverage through the plan only for their dependent children. In designing and revising the schedule of services, the administrator shall consider the guidelines for assessing health services under the mandated benefits act of 1984, RCW 48.42.080, and such other factors as the administrator deems appropriate. On and after ((~~July 1~~)) December 31, 1995, the uniform benefits package adopted and from time to time revised by the Washington health services commission pursuant to RCW 43.72.130 shall be implemented by the administrator as the schedule of covered basic health care services. However, with respect to coverage for subsidized enrollees who are eligible to receive prenatal and postnatal services through the medical assistance program under chapter 74.09 RCW, the administrator shall not contract for such services except to the extent that the services are necessary over not more than a one-month period in order to maintain continuity of care after diagnosis of pregnancy by the managed care provider.

(2)(a) To design and implement a structure of periodic premiums due the administrator from subsidized enrollees that is based upon gross family income, giving appropriate consideration to family size and the ages of all family members. The enrollment of children shall not require the enrollment of their parent or parents who are eligible for the plan. The structure of periodic premiums shall be applied to subsidized enrollees entering the plan as individuals pursuant to subsection (9) of this section and to the share of the cost of the plan due from subsidized enrollees entering the plan as employees pursuant to subsection (10) of this section.

(b) To determine the periodic premiums due the administrator from nonsubsidized enrollees. Premiums due from nonsubsidized enrollees shall be in an amount equal to the cost charged by the managed health care system provider to the state for the plan plus the administrative cost of providing the plan to those enrollees and the premium tax under RCW 48.14.0201.

(c) An employer or other financial sponsor may, with the prior approval of the administrator, pay the premium, rate, or any other amount on behalf of a subsidized or nonsubsidized enrollee, by arrangement with the enrollee and through a mechanism acceptable to the administrator, but in no case shall the payment made on behalf of the enrollee exceed the total premiums due from the enrollee.

(3) To design and implement a structure of copayments due a managed health care system from subsidized and nonsubsidized enrollees. The structure shall discourage inappropriate enrollee utilization of health care services, but shall not be so costly to enrollees as to constitute a barrier to appropriate utilization of necessary health care services. On and after July 1, 1995, the administrator shall endeavor to make the copayments structure of the plan consistent with enrollee point of service cost-sharing levels adopted by the Washington health services commission, giving consideration to funding available to the plan.

(4) To limit enrollment of persons who qualify for subsidies so as to prevent an overexpenditure of appropriations for such purposes. Whenever the administrator finds that there is danger of such an overexpenditure, the administrator shall close enrollment until the administrator finds the danger no longer exists.

(5) To limit the payment of subsidies to subsidized enrollees, as defined in RCW 70.47.020.

(6) To adopt a schedule for the orderly development of the delivery of services and availability of the plan to residents of the state, subject to the limitations contained in RCW 70.47.080 or any act appropriating funds for the plan.

(7) To solicit and accept applications from managed health care systems, as defined in this chapter, for inclusion as eligible basic health care providers under the plan. The administrator shall endeavor to assure that covered basic health care services are available to any enrollee of the plan from among a selection of two or more participating managed health care systems. In adopting any rules or procedures applicable to managed health care systems and in its dealings with such systems, the administrator shall consider and make suitable allowance for the need for health care services and the differences in local availability of health care resources, along with other resources, within and among the several areas of the state. Contracts with participating managed health care systems shall ensure that basic health plan enrollees who become eligible for medical assistance may, at their option, continue to receive services from their existing providers within the managed health care system if such providers have entered into provider agreements with the department of social and health services.

(8) To receive periodic premiums from or on behalf of subsidized and nonsubsidized enrollees, deposit them in the basic health plan operating account, keep records of enrollee status, and authorize periodic payments to managed health care systems on the basis of the number of enrollees participating in the respective managed health care systems.

(9) To accept applications from individuals residing in areas served by the plan, on behalf of themselves and their spouses and dependent children, for enrollment in the Washington basic health plan as subsidized or nonsubsidized enrollees, to establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods for enrollees as may be necessary, and to determine, upon application and at least semiannually thereafter, or at the request of any enrollee, eligibility due to current gross family income for sliding scale premiums. No subsidy may be paid with respect to any enrollee whose current gross family income exceeds twice the federal poverty level or, subject to RCW 70.47.110, who is a recipient of medical assistance or medical care services under chapter 74.09 RCW. If, as a result of an eligibility review, the administrator determines that a subsidized enrollee's income exceeds twice the federal poverty level and that the enrollee knowingly failed to inform the plan of such increase in income, the administrator may bill the enrollee for the subsidy paid on the enrollee's behalf during the period of time that the enrollee's income exceeded twice the federal poverty level. If a number of enrollees drop their enrollment for no apparent good cause, the administrator may establish appropriate rules or requirements that are applicable to such individuals before they will be allowed to re-enroll in the plan.

(10) To accept applications from business owners on behalf of themselves and their employees, spouses, and dependent children, as subsidized or nonsubsidized enrollees, who reside in an area served by the plan. The administrator may require all or the substantial majority of the eligible employees of such businesses to enroll in the plan and establish those procedures necessary to facilitate the orderly enrollment of groups in the plan and into a managed health care system. The administrator shall require that a business owner pay at least fifty percent of the nonsubsidized premium cost of the plan on behalf of each employee enrolled in the plan. Enrollment is limited to those not eligible for medicare who wish to enroll in the plan and choose to obtain the basic health care coverage and services from a managed care system participating in the plan. The administrator shall adjust the amount determined to be due on behalf of or from all such enrollees whenever the amount negotiated by the administrator with the participating managed health care system or systems is modified or the administrative cost of providing the plan to such enrollees changes.

(11) To determine the rate to be paid to each participating managed health care system in return for the provision of covered basic health care services to enrollees in the system. Although the schedule of covered basic health care services will be the same for similar enrollees, the rates negotiated with participating managed health care systems may vary among the systems. In negotiating rates with participating systems, the administrator shall consider the characteristics of the populations served by the respective systems, economic circumstances of the local area, the need to conserve the resources of the basic health plan trust account, and other factors the administrator finds relevant.

(12) To monitor the provision of covered services to enrollees by participating managed health care systems in order to assure enrollee access to good quality basic health care, to require periodic data reports concerning the utilization of health care services rendered to enrollees in order to provide adequate information for evaluation, and to inspect the books and records of participating managed health care systems to assure compliance with the purposes of this chapter. In requiring reports from participating managed health care systems, including data on services rendered enrollees, the administrator shall endeavor to minimize costs, both to the managed health care systems and to the plan. The administrator shall coordinate any such reporting requirements with other state agencies, such as the insurance commissioner and the department of health, to minimize duplication of effort.

(13) To evaluate the effects this chapter has on private employer-based health care coverage and to take appropriate measures consistent with state and federal statutes that will discourage the reduction of such coverage in the state.

(14) To develop a program of proven preventive health measures and to integrate it into the plan wherever possible and consistent with this chapter.

(15) To provide, consistent with available funding, assistance for rural residents, underserved populations, and persons of color.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.