CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SENATE BILL 5931

Chapter 31, Laws of 2014

63rd Legislature
2014 Regular Session



HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS--CARRIER REQUIREMENTS



EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/12/14

Passed by the Senate February 12, 2014
  YEAS 46   NAYS 3

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House March 5, 2014
  YEAS 93   NAYS 4

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 5931 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

HUNTER G. GOODMAN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved March 17, 2014, 3:18 p.m.








JAY INSLEE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 17, 2014







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SENATE BILL 5931
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2014 Regular Session
State of Washington63rd Legislature2013 1st Special Session

By Senators Hargrove, Becker, and Keiser

Read first time 05/13/13.   Referred to Committee on Health Care .



     AN ACT Relating to carriers operating outside of the exchange but only relating to requiring that carriers offering health benefit plans that meet the definition of bronze level in the individual or small group market must also offer silver and gold level plans as specified in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010 and that nongrandfathered individual and small group health plans must conform with the actuarial value tiers specified in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010; and amending RCW 48.43.700 and 48.43.705.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.43.700 and 2012 c 87 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) For plan or policy years beginning January 1, 2014, a carrier ((must offer individual or small group health benefit plans that meet the definition of silver and gold level plans in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, in any market outside the exchange in which it offers a plan that meets the definition of bronze level in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended)) offering a health benefit plan that meets the definition of bronze level in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, in the individual market outside of the exchange must also offer plans that meet the definition of silver and gold level plans in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, in the individual market outside of the exchange.
     (2) For plan or policy years beginning January 1, 2014, a carrier offering a health benefit plan that meets the definition of bronze level in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, in the small group market outside of the exchange must also offer plans that meet the definition of silver and gold level plans in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, in the small group market outside of the exchange.
     (3)
A health benefit plan meeting the definition of a catastrophic plan in RCW 48.43.005(8)(c)(i) may only be sold through the exchange.
     (((3))) (4) By December 1, 2016, the exchange board, in consultation with the commissioner, must complete a review of the impact of this section on the health and viability of the markets inside and outside the exchange and submit the recommendations to the legislature on whether to maintain the market rules or let them expire.
     (((4))) (5) The commissioner shall evaluate plans offered at each actuarial value defined in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, and determine whether variation in prescription drug benefit cost-sharing, both inside and outside the exchange in both the individual and small group markets results in adverse selection. If so, the commissioner may adopt rules to assure substantial equivalence of prescription drug cost-sharing.

Sec. 2   RCW 48.43.705 and 2012 c 87 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     All nongrandfathered individual and small group health plans, other than catastrophic health plans, offered outside of the exchange must conform with the actuarial value tiers specified in section 1302 of P.L. 111-148 of 2010, as amended, as bronze, silver, gold, or platinum.


         Passed by the Senate February 12, 2014.
         Passed by the House March 5, 2014.
         Approved by the Governor March 17, 2014.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 17, 2014.