SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5011

              As Passed Senate, February 17, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the financial and reporting requirements of health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations.

Brief Description:  Changing the financial and reporting requirements of health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Insurance & Housing (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Financial Institutions, Insurance & Housing:  1/23/97, 1/28/97 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/17/97, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INSURANCE & HOUSING

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5011 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Winsley, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Hale, Heavey and Prentice.

Staff:  David Cheal (786-7576)

Background:  Health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations are required to maintain a certain level of net worth.  Those amounts currently are $1,500,000 for health care service contractors and $1 million for health maintenance organizations.

Limited health care service contractors are defined as a provider that offers one health care service such as vision care, dental care, mental health services, or pharmaceutical services.  Currently, limited health care service contractors are not required to maintain any particular net worth. 

Summary of Bill:  Limited health care service contractors must maintain a minimum net worth of $500,000.  Currently, registered limited health care service contractors are allowed to continue operating and meet this requirement incrementally by December 31, 1999.

Health care service contractors must maintain a net worth equal to $3 million or 2 percent of annual premiums on the first $150 million of premium and 1 percent on the premium revenue in excess of that amount, whichever is greater.

Existing health care service contractors may meet this requirement in staged increments by December 31, 1999.

Health care service contractors must file financial statements annually with the Insurance Commissioner and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Health maintenance organizations must maintain a minimum net worth equal to the greater of $3 million or 2 percent of annual premiums on the first $150 million of premium and 1 percent on the premium in excess of that amount.  Existing health maintenance organizations are allowed to meet this requirement in staged increments by December 31, 1999.

Any HMO or HCSC that falls below the net worth requirements is required to cure the deficiency within 90 days after the deficiency notice from the Insurance Commissioner.  If the deficiency is not made good, the contractor is deemed insolvent and may not issue any further individual or group contracts. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The current minimum net worth requirements for health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations have been eroded by inflation and need to be increased to protect subscribers and members.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Woodall, Insurance Commissioner=s office (pro); Ken Bertrand, Group Health (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The minimum net worth requirement for limited health care service contractors is reduced from $500,000 to $300,000.