(1)(a) A health maintenance organization offering any health benefit plan to a small employer, either directly or through an association or member-governed group formed specifically for the purpose of purchasing health care, may offer and actively market to the small employer a health benefit plan featuring a limited schedule of covered health care services. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a health maintenance organization from offering, or a small employer from purchasing, other health benefit plans that may have more comprehensive benefits than those included in the product offered under this subsection. A health maintenance organization offering a health benefit plan under this subsection shall clearly disclose all the covered benefits to the small employer in a brochure filed with the commissioner.

   (b) A health benefit plan offered under this subsection shall provide coverage for hospital expenses and services rendered by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW but is not subject to the requirements of RCW 48.46.275, 48.46.280, 48.46.285, 48.46.290, 48.46.350, 48.46.355, 48.46.375, 48.46.440, 48.46.480, 48.46.510, 48.46.520, and 48.46.530.

   (2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a health maintenance organization from offering, or a purchaser from seeking, health benefit plans with benefits in excess of the health benefit plan offered under subsection (1) of this section. All forms, policies, and contracts shall be submitted for approval to the commissioner, and the rates of any plan offered under this section shall be reasonable in relation to the benefits thereto.

   (3) Premium rates for health benefit plans for small employers as defined in this section shall be subject to the following provisions:

   (a) The health maintenance organization shall develop its rates based on an adjusted community rate and may only vary the adjusted community rate for:

   (i) Geographic area;

   (ii) Family size;

   (iii) Age; and

   (iv) Wellness activities.

   (b) The adjustment for age in (a)(iii) of this subsection may not use age brackets smaller than five-year increments, which shall begin with age twenty and end with age sixty-five. Employees under the age of twenty shall be treated as those age twenty.

   (c) The health maintenance organization shall be permitted to develop separate rates for individuals age sixty-five or older for coverage for which medicare is the primary payer and coverage for which medicare is not the primary payer. Both rates shall be subject to the requirements of this subsection (((3))) (4).

   (d) The permitted rates for any age group shall be no more than four hundred twenty-five percent of the lowest rate for all age groups on January 1, 1996, four hundred percent on January 1, 1997, and three hundred seventy-five percent on January 1, 2000, and thereafter.

   (e) A discount for wellness activities shall be permitted to reflect actuarially justified differences in utilization or cost attributed to such programs.

   (f) The rate charged for a health benefit plan offered under this section may not be adjusted more frequently than annually except that the premium may be changed to reflect:

   (i) Changes to the enrollment of the small employer;

   (ii) Changes to the family composition of the employee;

   (iii) Changes to the health benefit plan requested by the small employer; or

   (iv) Changes in government requirements affecting the health benefit plan.

   (g) Rating factors shall produce premiums for identical groups that differ only by the amounts attributable to plan design, with the exception of discounts for health improvement programs.

   (h) For the purposes of this section, a health benefit plan that contains a restricted network provision shall not be considered similar coverage to a health benefit plan that does not contain such a provision, provided that the restrictions of benefits to network providers result in substantial differences in claims costs. A carrier may develop its rates based on claims costs due to network provider reimbursement schedules or type of network. This subsection does not restrict or enhance the portability of benefits as provided in RCW 48.43.015.

   (i) Adjusted community rates established under this section shall pool the medical experience of all groups purchasing coverage. However, annual rate adjustments for each small group health benefit plan may vary by up to plus or minus ((four)) eight percentage points from the overall adjustment of a carrier's entire small group pool((, such overall adjustment to be approved by the commissioner, upon a showing by the carrier, certified by a member of the American academy of actuaries that: (i) The variation is a result of deductible leverage, benefit design, or provider network characteristics; and (ii) for a rate renewal period, the projected weighted average of all small group benefit plans will have a revenue neutral effect on the carrier's small group pool. Variations of greater than four percentage points are subject to review by the commissioner, and must be approved or denied within sixty days of submittal)) if certified by a member of the American academy of actuaries, that: (i) The variation is a result of deductible leverage, benefit design, claims cost trend for the plan, or provider network characteristics; and (ii) for a rate renewal period, the projected weighted average of all small group benefit plans will have a revenue neutral effect on the health maintenance organization's small group pool. Variations of greater than eight percentage points are subject to review by the commissioner, and must be approved or denied within thirty days of submittal. A variation that is not denied within ((sixty)) thirty days shall be deemed approved. The commissioner must provide to the carrier a detailed actuarial justification for any denial ((within thirty days)) at the time of the denial.

   (4) Nothing in this section shall restrict the right of employees to collectively bargain for insurance providing benefits in excess of those provided herein.

   (5)(a) Except as provided in this subsection, requirements used by a health maintenance organization in determining whether to provide coverage to a small employer shall be applied uniformly among all small employers applying for coverage or receiving coverage from the carrier.

   (b) A health maintenance organization shall not require a minimum participation level greater than:

   (i) One hundred percent of eligible employees working for groups with three or less employees; and

   (ii) Seventy-five percent of eligible employees working for groups with more than three employees.

   (c) In applying minimum participation requirements with respect to a small employer, a small employer shall not consider employees or dependents who have similar existing coverage in determining whether the applicable percentage of participation is met.

   (d) A health maintenance organization may not increase any requirement for minimum employee participation or modify any requirement for minimum employer contribution applicable to a small employer at any time after the small employer has been accepted for coverage.

   (6) A health maintenance organization must offer coverage to all eligible employees of a small employer and their dependents. A health maintenance organization may not offer coverage to only certain individuals or dependents in a small employer group or to only part of the group. A health maintenance organization may not modify a health plan with respect to a small employer or any eligible employee or dependent, through riders, endorsements or otherwise, to restrict or exclude coverage or benefits for specific diseases, medical conditions, or services otherwise covered by the plan."

   Correct internal references and correct the title.

EFFECT: Annual rating adjustments are increased from plus or minus four percentage points to plus or minus eight percentage points from the overall adjustment of a health carrier's entire small group pool.