HB1761 HD1

Report Title:

Health Insurance Rate Increases

Description:

Gives insurance commissioner power to regulate health insurance rates. (HB1761 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1761
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to insurance.

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

SECTION 1. The economic impacts of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, have profoundly affected Hawaii. The effects on the State's economy have been immediate. Hawaii businesses have experienced enormous revenue losses due to decreases in the number of visitors to Hawaii and troop deployments. The nation has been warned to expect that the war on terrorism will continue and that revenue losses can be expected to continue until consumer confidence is restored. In this environment, State support for the business community and workers is imperative. This Act will assist the state economy by stabilizing health insurance costs, a significant fixed cost borne by Hawaii employers and employees.

This Act authorizes regulation of health insurance rates in a manner similar to the way motor vehicle, workers' compensation, and other property and casualty insurance lines rates are presently regulated. Rate regulation of these lines of insurance has resulted in premium decreases over the past five years, while unregulated health insurance rates have risen over the same period. Rate regulation:

(1) Ensures that rates are not excessive, thereby protecting employers and employees from unduly burdensome and unwarranted premium increases;

(2) Promotes the social policy that members' fees be used to maximize benefits and support the delivery of high quality health care in the State; and

(3) Ensures that rates are actuarially prudent and adequate to promote the long-term viability of health care plans while preventing predatory pricing.

The purpose of this Act is to protect the public interest and ensure that health insurance rates are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, by authorizing the insurance commissioner to regulate health insurance rates.

SECTION 2. Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new article to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"ARTICLE

HEALTH INSURANCE RATE REGULATION

§431: -101 Scope and purpose. (a) This article shall apply to all types of health insurance offered by managed care plans to the extent not otherwise regulated under the insurance code or federal law.

(b) The purpose of this article is to promote the public welfare by regulating health insurance rates to the end that they shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Nothing in this article is intended to:

(1) Prohibit or discourage reasonable competition; or

(2) Prohibit or encourage, except to the extent necessary to accomplish the aforementioned purposes, uniformity in health insurance rates, rating systems, rating plans, or practices.

This article shall be liberally interpreted to implement this section.

§431: -102 Definitions. As used in this article:

"Commissioner" means the insurance commissioner.

"Enrollee" means a person who enters into a contractual relationship or who is provided with health care services or benefits through a managed care plan.

"Managed care plan" or "plan" means any health plan governed by, or falling within article 10A of chapter 431, chapter 432, or chapter 432D, regardless of form, offered or administered by a health care insurer, a health maintenance organization, or a mutual benefit society; provided that it shall not include mutual benefit societies of employee organizations or voluntary employees' beneficiary associations.

"Rate" means every rate, charge, classification, schedule, practice, or rule.

"Supplementary rating information" includes any manual or plan of rates, classification, rating schedule, minimum premium, policy fee, rating rule, underwriting rule, statistical plan, and any other similar information needed to determine the applicable rates in effect or to be in effect.

"Supporting information" means:

The experience and judgment of the filer and the experience or data of other organizations relied on by the filer;
The interpretation of any other data relied upon by the filer; and
Descriptions of methods used in making the rates; and
Any other information required by the commissioner.

§431: -103 Making of rates. (a) Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory and shall be reasonable in relation to benefits provided.

(b) Except to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of subsection (a), uniformity among managed care plans in any matters within the scope of regulation under this article shall be neither required nor prohibited.

§431: -104 Rate adjustment mandates. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the commissioner may mandate filings for health insurance under section 431: -105 when the commissioner has actuarially sound information that current rates may be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.

(b) Managed care plans shall submit rate filings within one hundred twenty days of the commissioner's mandate.

§431: -105 Rate filings. (a) Every managed care plan shall file in triplicate with the commissioner, every rate, charge, classification, schedule, practice, or rule, and every modification of any of the foregoing which it proposes to use. Every filing shall state its proposed effective date and shall indicate the character and extent of the coverage contemplated. The filing also shall include a report on investment income.

(b) Each filing shall be accompanied by a $50 fee payable to the commissioner, which shall be deposited in the commissioner's education and training fund.

(c) At the same time as the filing of the rate, each insurer shall file all supplementary rating and supporting information to be used in support of or in conjunction with a rate. The managed care plan may satisfy its obligation to file supplementary rating and supporting information by reference to material which has been approved by the commissioner. The information furnished in support of a filing may include or consist of a reference to:

The managed care plan's interpretation of any statistical data upon which it relies;
The experience of other managed care plans; or
Any other relevant factors.

(d) When a filing is not accompanied by supplementary rating and supporting information or the commissioner lacks sufficient information to determine whether the filing meets the requirements of this article, the commissioner may require the managed care plan to furnish additional information and, in that event, the ninety day waiting period under subsection (h) shall commence as of the date the information is furnished. Until the requested information is provided, the filing shall not be deemed complete or filed and the filing shall not be used by the managed care plan. If the requested information is not provided within a reasonable time period, the filing may be returned to the managed care plan as not filed and not available for use.

(e) Except for a rate filed in accordance with subsection (i), or a filing in whole or in part that the commissioner orders to be held confidential and exempt from public disclosure, a filing and any supporting information shall be open to public inspection upon filing with the commissioner.

(f) After reviewing a managed care plan's filing, the commissioner may require that the managed care plan's rates be based upon the managed care plan's own loss and expense information.

(g) The commissioner shall review filings promptly after they have been made to determine whether they meet the requirements of this article. The commissioner shall calculate the investment income and accuracy of loss reserves upon which filings are based, and the managed care plan shall provide the information necessary to make the calculation.

(h) Except as provided in this subsection and in subsection (d), each filing shall be on file for a waiting period of ninety days before the filing becomes effective. The period may be extended by the commissioner for a period not to exceed fifteen days upon written notice by the commissioner to the managed care plan within the waiting period stating that additional time is needed for review of the filing.

The commissioner may authorize a filing that has been reviewed to become effective before the expiration of the waiting period or any extension thereof upon written application by the managed care plan. A filing shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this article unless disapproved by the commissioner within the waiting period or any extension thereof. Rates filed shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this article until the time the commissioner reviews the filing and so long as the filing remains in effect.

(i) The commissioner, by written order, may suspend or modify the requirement of filing as to any class of health insurance, subdivision, or combination thereof, or as to classes of risks, the rates for which cannot practicably be filed before they are used. The order shall be made known to each managed care plan affected by the order. The commissioner may make examinations as the commissioner may deem advisable to ascertain whether any rates affected by the order meet the standards set forth in section 431: -103.

(j) The commissioner may make the following rate effective when filed: any special filing with respect to any class of health insurance, subdivision, or combination thereof which is subject to individual risk premium modification and has been agreed to under a formal or informal bid process.

(k) For managed care plans having annual premium revenues of less than $10,000,000, the commissioner may adopt rules under chapter 91 that provide the commissioner with sufficient facts necessary to determine the reasonableness of the proposed rates without unduly burdening the managed care plan and its enrollees.

(l) No managed care plan shall make or issue a contract or policy except in accordance with filings that are in effect for the managed care plan as provided in this article.

§431: -106 Reserves. (a) If a managed care plan's net worth exceeds fifty per cent of its annual health care expenditures and operating expenses as reported in the most recent financial statement filed with the commissioner, the excess moneys shall either be:

Returned to enrollees of the managed care plan; or
Applied to stabilize or reduce rates, charges, assessments, subscriptions, receipts, contributions, fees, or dues payable by the enrollees of the managed care plan.

(b) Excess moneys applied in accordance with subsection (a)(2) shall be reallocated among all lines of health insurance sold by the managed care plan. Reallocation of moneys pursuant to this section may be delayed until the amount of moneys available to be reallocated exceeds $10,000,000. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a managed care plan from maintaining reserves below the maximum limit, returning moneys to, or reducing moneys payable by, enrollees of a managed care plan prior to reaching the maximum limit.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or eliminate the minimum reserve requirements applicable to a managed care plan. In the event of a conflict, the minimum reserve requirements shall control.

(d) Eighty per cent of all investment income on a managed care plan's reserves, less investment manager fees, shall be applied to the rate determination and filing of a managed care plan. This requirement may be waived or adjusted by the commissioner if the commissioner determines it would impair the managed care plan's solvency or ability to meet minimum reserve requirements.

§431: -107 Policy revisions that alter coverage. All plan revisions that alter coverage in any manner shall be filed with the commissioner. After review by the commissioner, the commissioner shall determine whether a rate filing for the plan revision shall be submitted in accordance with section 431: -105.

§431: -108 Disapproval of filings. (a) If within the waiting period or any extension of the waiting period as provided in section 431: -105 the commissioner finds that a filing does not meet the requirements of this article, the commissioner shall send to the managed care plan that submitted the filing written notice of disapproval of the filing specifying in what respects the filing fails to meet the requirements of this article and stating that the filing shall not become effective.

(b) Whenever a managed care plan has no legally effective rates as a result of the commissioner's disapproval of rates or other act, and upon request of the managed care plan, the commissioner shall specify interim rates that are high enough to protect the interests of the managed care plan and its enrollees and may order that a specified portion of the premiums be placed in an escrow account approved by the commissioner. When new rates become legally effective the commissioner may order the escrowed funds or any difference between interim and new rates to be refunded.

(c) The commissioner shall order a hearing upon a filing if at any time subsequent to the applicable review period provided for in subsection (a) the commissioner finds that a filing does not comply with the requirements of this article:

(1) The hearing shall be held upon not less than ten days' written notice to the managed care plan or plans that submitted the filing. The notice shall specify the matters to be considered at the hearing; and

(2) If after a hearing the commissioner finds that a filing does not meet the requirements of this article, the commissioner shall issue an order specifying in what respects the filing fails to meet the requirements of this article, and stating when, within a reasonable period thereafter, the filing shall be deemed no longer effective. Copies of the order shall be sent to the managed care plan or plans that submitted the filing. The order shall not affect any contract or policy made or issued prior to the expiration of the period set forth in the order.

§431: -109 Managed care plans, prohibited activity. (a) Except as permitted in this article, no managed care plan shall:

Attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person to monopolize an insurance market; or
Engage in a boycott, on a concerted basis, of an insurance market.

(b) Except as permitted in this article, no managed care plan shall make any arrangement with any other person which has the purpose or effect of restraining trade unreasonably or of substantially lessening competition in the business of insurance.

§431: -110 Information to be furnished enrollees; hearings and appeals of enrollees. Every managed care plan that makes its own rates, within a reasonable time after receiving written request therefor and upon payment of any reasonable charges as it may make, shall furnish to any enrollee affected by a rate made by it or to the authorized representative of the enrollee, all pertinent information as to the rate.

§431: -111 False or misleading information. No person or organization shall wilfully withhold information from, or

knowingly give false or misleading information to, the commissioner, any statistical agency designated by the commissioner, or any managed care plan, where such information will affect the rates or premiums chargeable under this article.

Any violation of this section shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 431: -112.

§431: -112 Penalties. (a) If the commissioner finds any person or organization has violated any provision of this article, the commissioner may impose a penalty of not more than $500 for each violation, but if the commissioner finds the violation to be wilful, the commissioner may impose a penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Penalties shall be in addition to any other penalty provided by law. For purposes of this section, any managed care plan using a rate for which the managed care plan has failed to file a rate filing, supplementary rating or supporting information, or underwriting rules or guides as required by this article, commits a separate violation for each day the failure to file continues.

(b) The commissioner may suspend the license or operating authority of any managed care plan that fails to comply with an order of the commissioner within the time limited by the order, or any extension thereof which the commissioner may grant. The commissioner shall not suspend the license of any managed care plan for failure to comply with an order until the time prescribed for an appeal from the order has expired or, if an appeal has been taken, until the order has been affirmed. The commissioner shall determine when a suspension of license or operating authority shall become effective and said suspension shall remain in effect for the period fixed by the commissioner unless modified or rescinded by the commissioner, or until the order upon which the suspension is based is modified, rescinded, or reversed.

(c) No penalty shall be imposed and no license or operating authority shall be suspended or revoked except upon a written order of the commissioner stating the commissioner's findings after a hearing held upon not less than ten days' written notice to the person or organization specifying the alleged violation.

§431: -113 Hearing procedure; judicial review. (a) Any managed care plan aggrieved by any order or decision of the commissioner made without a hearing may within thirty days after notice of the order to the managed care plan make written request to the commissioner for a hearing:

(1) The commissioner shall hold a hearing within twenty days after receipt of the request, and shall give not less than ten days' written notice of the time and place of the hearing; and

(2) Within fifteen days after the hearing, the commissioner shall affirm, reverse, or modify the commissioner's previous action, specifying the reasons for the commissioner's decision. Pending the hearing and decision the commissioner may suspend or postpone the effective date of the commissioner's previous action.

(b) Any person or organization aggrieved with respect to any filing which is in effect, other than the managed care plan that made the filing, may make written request to the commissioner for a hearing thereon:

(1) The request shall specify the grounds relied upon and show that the person or organization possesses a specific economic interest affected by the filing;

(2) The commissioner shall conduct a hearing within thirty days after receipt of the request upon finding that:

(A) The request is made in good faith;

(B) The applicant would be so aggrieved if the grounds relied upon are established; and

The hearing shall be held upon not less than ten days' written notice to the aggrieved party and the managed care plan or plans that submitted the disputed filing; and

(3) If, after the hearing, the commissioner finds that the filing does not meet the requirements of this article, the commissioner shall issue an order specifying in what respects the filing fails to meet the requirements of this article, and stating when, within a reasonable period, the filing shall be deemed no longer effective. Copies of the order shall be sent to the applicant and to the managed care plan or plans that submitted the filing. The order shall not affect any contract or policy made or issued prior to the expiration of the period set forth in the order.

(c) A final order or decision of the commissioner shall be subject to review in the circuit court of the first circuit and an appeal from the decision of the circuit court shall lie to the supreme court.

§431: -114 Administrative procedure. Unless expressly provided otherwise, the notices, hearings, orders, and appeals referred to in this section shall be in all applicable respects subject to chapter 91."

SECTION 3. Section 432:1-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Article 2 [~~and~~], article 13, and article of chapter 431, and the powers there granted to the commissioner, shall apply to managed care plans, health maintenance organizations, or medical indemnity or hospital service associations, which are owned or controlled by mutual benefit societies, so long as such application in any particular case is in compliance with and is not preempted by applicable federal statutes and regulations."

SECTION 4. Section 432D-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

"(d) Article 2 [~~and~~], article 13, and article of chapter 431, and the power there granted to the commissioner, shall apply to health maintenance organizations, so long as such application in any particular case is in compliance with and is not preempted by applicable federal statutes and regulations."

SECTION 5. All managed care plans shall file initial rates within thirty days of the effective date of this Act. These rates shall be in effect until approved by the commissioner and shall be treated as interim rates pursuant to section 431: -108(b) of section 2 of this Act. The time limits set forth in this Act for review of rates by the commissioner shall not apply to the commissioner's review of initial rates; provided that the commissioner shall review initial rates within a reasonable period of time.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2099.