Senate File 354 - Reprinted



                                       SENATE FILE       
                                       BY  COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE

                                       (SUCCESSOR TO SF 299)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act establishing pilot projects requiring the division of
  2    insurance to allow flexible small employer group health
  3    insurance coverage and requiring the insurance division to
  4    review insurance rating issues affecting small employers.
  5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  6 TLSB 2914SV 81
  7 av/gg/14

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  SMALL EMPLOYER GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PILOT
  1  2 PROJECTS == REPORTS.  The division of insurance of the
  1  3 department of commerce shall study and implement one or more
  1  4 small employer group health insurance pilot projects for the
  1  5 purpose of providing small employers greater flexibility in
  1  6 the types of group health insurance coverage available for
  1  7 their employees.  For purposes of this section, "small
  1  8 employer" means the same as defined in section 513B.2.  Target
  1  9 groups for the pilot projects shall be small employers who
  1 10 currently do not offer health insurance to their employees.
  1 11 For the purposes of implementing the pilot projects, the
  1 12 division of insurance may waive current statutory and
  1 13 regulatory requirements applicable to small group health
  1 14 insurance coverage pursuant to chapter 513B, and benefit
  1 15 mandates under chapters 509, 514, 514B, and 514C.  The
  1 16 division may consider rate incentives for lifestyle changes
  1 17 and disease management programs, or other related options as
  1 18 determined by the division.  In addition, the division shall
  1 19 review the unique health insurance rating issues that affect
  1 20 small employers to see if current rating requirements
  1 21 adequately address this group.  The projects shall be
  1 22 implemented commencing during the fiscal year beginning July
  1 23 1, 2005, and shall end by June 30, 2008.  The division shall
  1 24 submit an annual evaluation of the results of the pilot
  1 25 projects and of its review of rating issues to the general
  1 26 assembly on or before December 15, 2005, and on or before
  1 27 December 15 of each year thereafter while the pilot projects
  1 28 are being implemented and shall submit a final report
  1 29 summarizing the results of the pilot projects to the general
  1 30 assembly on or before December 15, 2008.
  1 31 SF 354
  1 32 av:nh/cc/26