Subject of Possible Rule Making: The legislature directed the commissioner to prepare a report comparing small group health plan market and association health plan market performance, for the years 2005-2008. The rule making addresses the data standards, definitions, instructions and submission requirements for data the commissioner plans to collect from the carriers who serve these markets for Washington residents.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060; chapter 172, Laws of 2010.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The law commissioning the report specifically states: "The commissioner is prohibited from collecting data from carriers if any rules necessary to implement the data submission administrative process have not been adopted." Section 1(2), chapter 172, Laws of 2010. In order to obtain data that can be credibly compared across the markets, rules related to the data submission administration process are necessary.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Work with carriers who will be filing to develop technical submission standards, definitions and other administrative process requirements.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Provide information, thoughts, concerns and suggestions to Meg L. Jones, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, phone (360) 7257-7170 [725-7170], fax (360) 586-3109, e-mail megj@oic.wa.gov.

August 18, 2010

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

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