HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2098        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2269

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nick Collins

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act ensuring a competitive and cost-effective municipal health market.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2098        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2269

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act ensuring a competitive and cost-effective municipal health market.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 19 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking from the second paragraph of subsection (e) the phrase “at either 3 or 6-year intervals from the date of transfer of subscribers to the commission, as determined by the written agreement which shall specify the withdrawal interval and withdrawal procedures.”  and inserting in place thereof the words “annually, as determined by the written agreement, which shall specify the withdrawal procedures.”

SECTION 2.  Said section 19 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is further amended by striking the first two sentences of the third paragraph of subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“The decision and notice to withdraw shall be made by December 1 for the withdrawal of subscribers effective the following July 1, or by July 1 for the withdrawal of subscribers effective the following January 1.”

SECTION 3. Said section 19 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is further amended by striking the first paragraph of subsection (f) in inserting in place thereof the following:-

“To the extent authorized under chapter 32A, the commission shall provide group coverage of subscribers' health claims incurred after transfer to the commission. The claim experience of those subscribers for each political subdivision shall be maintained by the commission in a separate pool from the claim experience of all covered state employees and retirees and their covered dependents, including those subscribers who previously received coverage under sections 10B and 12 of chapter 32A. 

Upon request, the commission shall annually provide each political subdivision with a complete claims history including:

1.the most recent 12 months of claims history by month

2.enrollment by month for the most recent 12 months

3.large loss claims information

4.benefit changes for the most recent 12 months

5.census by gender and zip code

Such data shall be provided upon written request by the mayor or town manager or the public employee committee.  The commission may charge a fee for providing the data in an amount determined by the executive director, which fee shall not be greater than $1,000.  The commission shall provide a detailed data response to such request within 60 days.”

SECTION 4. Section 23 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking from subsection (a) the phrase “at 3 year intervals from the date of transfer of subscribers to the commission” and inserting in place thereof the word “annually”.

SECTION 5.  Said section 23 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is further amended by striking the first two sentences of the third paragraph of subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“ The appropriate public authority shall provide notice of withdrawal by December 1 for the withdrawal of subscribers the following July 1 or by July 1 for the withdrawal of subscribers effective the following January 1.  The political subdivision shall abide by all commission requirements for effectuating such withdrawal, including the notice requirements in this subsection.”

SECTION 6. Said section 23 of chapter 32B of the General Laws is further amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“(b) To the extent authorized under chapter 32A, the commission shall provide group coverage of subscribers' health claims incurred after transfer to the commission. The claim experience of those subscribers for each political subdivision shall be maintained by the commission in a separate pool from the claim experience of all covered state employees and retirees and their covered dependents, including those subscribers who previously received coverage under sections 10B and 12 of chapter 32A. 

Upon request, the commission shall annually provide each political subdivision with a complete claims history including:

6.the most recent 12 months of claims history by month

7.enrollment by month for the most recent 12 months

8.large loss claims information

9.benefit changes for the most recent 12 months

10.census by gender and zip code

Such data shall be provided upon written request by the mayor or town manager or the public employee committee.  The commission may charge a fee for providing the data in an amount determined by the executive director, which fee shall not be greater than $1,000.  The commission shall provide a detailed data response to such request within 60 days.”