Text: HF02520 Text: HF02522 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. IOWA HEALTH INSURANCE VALUE INITIATIVE.
1 2 1. The commissioner of insurance shall conduct a study
1 3 regarding the costs of health insurance premiums for
1 4 businesses and individual customers in this state. The
1 5 purpose of the study shall be to provide the general assembly
1 6 with recommendations to reduce the cost of health insurance
1 7 premiums for businesses and individuals who purchase health
1 8 insurance policies by at least ten percent.
1 9 2. The study shall include a broad review and cost
1 10 comparison of health insurance policies offered in this state
1 11 including, but not limited to, those purchased as a group or
1 12 individually, by employers or employees, by self-employed or
1 13 self-insured persons, and through benevolent organizations,
1 14 nonprofit health service corporations, or health maintenance
1 15 organizations.
1 16 3. The study shall also consider methods to reduce the
1 17 cost of health care services that affect health insurance
1 18 premiums such as wellness programs, managed care, priority in
1 19 costs of service, equitable discounts to insurers, and the
1 20 costs of pharmaceuticals. The study shall consider possible
1 21 advantages of reinsurance programs, medical savings accounts,
1 22 and premium tax credits and assessments. The study shall
1 23 consider advantages of state government processes used by
1 24 other states such as mandate commissions and other
1 25 opportunities that would attract other business entities to
1 26 Iowa and increase competition.
1 27 4. In consultation with the department of economic
1 28 development, the study shall identify economic growth
1 29 opportunities and competitive advantages that may be gained
1 30 over neighboring states for Iowa businesses due to a decrease
1 31 in health insurance premiums in Iowa.
1 32 5. The commissioner shall provide at least two
1 33 recommendations for reducing health insurance premiums by at
1 34 least ten percent. The commissioner shall ensure that the
1 35 recommendations are supportive of the insurance industry,
2 1 which is a vital component of the economy of this state, and
2 2 that Iowa remains competitive with other states for continued
2 3 economic development in the insurance industry.
2 4 6. The commissioner of insurance, in consultation with the
2 5 department of economic development, shall select persons to
2 6 participate in the study, which persons shall include
2 7 representatives from the health insurance industry,
2 8 independent health insurance agents, health care providers,
2 9 large and small businesses offering health insurance benefits,
2 10 self-funded bodies, labor unions and collective bargaining
2 11 organizations, state and local governments and school boards
2 12 offering health insurance benefits, the department of human
2 13 services, and other health insurance-related parties or
2 14 experts as deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
2 15 7. The commissioner shall provide an action plan outlining
2 16 the proposed agenda for the study to the general assembly, or
2 17 if the general assembly is no longer in session to the
2 18 legislative oversight committee, by April 30, 2004. The
2 19 commissioner shall provide at least two interim reports to the
2 20 legislative government oversight committee and a final report
2 21 to the house standing committee on commerce, regulation and
2 22 labor, the senate standing committee on commerce, and the
2 23 legislative oversight committee by January 3, 2005.
2 24 Sec. 2. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE SOLUTION TASK FORCE
2 25 – STUDY. The insurance division of the department of
2 26 commerce shall establish a medical malpractice insurance
2 27 solution task force. The medical malpractice insurance
2 28 solution task force shall conduct a study regarding the
2 29 availability and affordability of medical malpractice
2 30 insurance in Iowa. The purpose of the study shall be to
2 31 provide regulatory agencies and the general assembly with
2 32 possible solutions to alleviate problems regarding the
2 33 availability and affordability of medical malpractice
2 34 insurance in Iowa. The study shall include a broad review of
2 35 factors affecting the availability and affordability of
3 1 medical malpractice insurance in Iowa, including all of the
3 2 following:
3 3 1. Premium amounts charged by medical malpractice insurers
3 4 compared to expenses of medical malpractice insurers related
3 5 to actual medical malpractice costs incurred including but not
3 6 limited to administrative and overhead costs and costs of
3 7 litigation including settlements and judgments during at least
3 8 the previous ten-year period.
3 9 2. The type of damages awarded in settlements and
3 10 judgments in medical malpractice actions including but not
3 11 limited to general economic and noneconomic damages, actual
3 12 medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages,
3 13 punitive damages, pain and suffering, and loss of
3 14 companionship.
3 15 3. Any other factors contributing to the increase,
3 16 decrease, and volatility of medical malpractice insurance
3 17 premiums.
3 18 4. Existing insurance regulatory requirements and
3 19 procedures.
3 20 5. Existing tort law in Iowa and the United States,
3 21 whether statutory or case law.
3 22 6. Any other relevant matters as agreed upon by the task
3 23 force.
3 24 The commissioner of insurance shall select the members of
3 25 the task force which shall include representatives of medical
3 26 malpractice insurers, health care professionals and health
3 27 care facilities that purchase medical malpractice insurance,
3 28 attorneys that represent plaintiffs in medical malpractice
3 29 actions, attorneys that represent defendants in medical
3 30 malpractice actions, and any other parties or experts as
3 31 deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
3 32 The commissioner shall submit a report from the task force
3 33 to the general assembly on or before January 15, 2005,
3 34 regarding the task force's findings and recommended possible
3 35 solutions, including proposed legislation, to make medical
4 1 malpractice insurance more available and more affordable in
4 2 Iowa.
4 3 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
4 4 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
4 5 HF 2521
4 6 kk/es/25
Text: HF02520 Text: HF02522 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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