E2SHB 2572 -
By Senator Deccio
PULLED 03/01/2006
On page 2, line 19 of the amendment, after "act" insert ", or subsidies to fund a health savings account under section 5 of this act"
On page 2, after line 19 of the amendment, insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 4
(2) Health savings account subsidy payments may be provided to
eligible employees if:
(a) The eligible employee is employed by a small employer; and
(b) The eligible employee participates in an employer sponsored
high deductible health plan and health savings account that conforms to
section 223, Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the internal
revenue code of 1986.
(3) The amount of an eligible employee's health savings account
subsidy shall be determined by the legislature in the biennial
operating budget.
(4) After an eligible individual has enrolled in the program, the
program shall issue subsidies in an amount determined pursuant to
subsection (3) of this section to either the eligible employee or to
the carrier designated by the eligible employee.
(5) An eligible employee must agree to provide verification of
continued enrollment in his or her small employer's health benefit plan
on a semiannual basis or to notify the administrator whenever his or
her enrollment status changes, whichever is earlier. Verification or
notification may be made directly by the employee, or through his or
her employer or the carrier providing the small employer health benefit
plan. When necessary, the administrator has the authority to perform
retrospective audits on health savings account subsidy accounts. The
administrator may suspend or terminate an employee's participation in
the program and seek repayment of any subsidy amounts paid due to the
omission or misrepresentation of an applicant or enrolled employee.
The administrator shall adopt rules to define the appropriate
application of these sanctions and the processes to implement the
sanctions provided in this subsection, within available resources."
Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct internal references accordingly.
EFFECT: Allows the Health Care Authority to also provide subsidies for individuals who have health savings accounts.