BILL REQ. #: Z-0181.2

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HOUSE BILL 1349
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State of Washington

63rd Legislature

2013 Regular Session

By Representatives Jinkins, Cody, Morrell, Fitzgibbon, Pollet, Van De Wege, Upthegrove, Appleton, Tharinger, and Ormsby; by request of Insurance Commissioner

Read first time 01/24/13. Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

AN ACT Relating to carrier surplus as an element of health benefit plan rate review; and adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For individual and small group rate filings with an effective date on or after January 1, 2015, submitted by a nonprofit health carrier for either the individual or small group markets, the commissioner must review the carrier's surplus levels as an element in determining the reasonableness of the proposed rate.
     (2) In reviewing the surplus, the commissioner must take into consideration the capital facility needs for carriers maintaining and operating hospital and clinical facilities.
     (3) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, this section does not affect the rate review authority granted to the commissioner by this title.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

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