1st Engrossment - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to health; regulating health plans; providing 1.3 for certain disclosures; amending Minnesota Statutes 1.4 1996, sections 62J.04, subdivisions 1, 1a, and 3; 1.5 62J.041; and 62J.301, subdivision 3; repealing 1.6 Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.042. 1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.04, 1.9 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 1.10 Subdivision 1. [LIMITS ON THE RATE OF GROWTHCOST 1.11 CONTAINMENT GOALS.] (a) The commissioner of health shall set 1.12 annuallimits on the rate of growth ofcost containment goals 1.13 for public and private spending on health care services for 1.14 Minnesota residents, as provided in paragraph (b). Thelimits1.15on growthcost containment goals must be set at levels the 1.16 commissioner determines to be realistic and achievable but that 1.17 will reduce the rate of growth in health care spending by at 1.18 least ten percent per year for the next five years. The 1.19 commissioner shall setlimits on growthcost containment goals 1.20 based on available data on spending and growth trends, including 1.21 data from group purchasers, national data on public and private 1.22 sector health care spending and cost trends, and trend 1.23 information from other states. 1.24 (b) The commissioner shall set the following annuallimits1.25on the rate of growth ofcost containment goals for public and 1.26 private spending on health care services for Minnesota residents: 2.1 (1) for calendar year 1994, therate of growthcost 2.2 containment goal must not exceed the change in the regional 2.3 consumer price index for urban consumers for calendar year 1993 2.4 plus 6.5 percentage points; 2.5 (2) for calendar year 1995, therate of growthcost 2.6 containment goal must not exceed the change in the regional 2.7 consumer price index for urban consumers for calendar year 1994 2.8 plus 5.3 percentage points; 2.9 (3) for calendar year 1996, therate of growthcost 2.10 containment goal must not exceed the change in the regional 2.11 consumer price index for urban consumers for calendar year 1995 2.12 plus 4.3 percentage points; 2.13 (4) for calendar year 1997, therate of growthcost 2.14 containment goal must not exceed the change in the regional 2.15 consumer price index for urban consumers for calendar year 1996 2.16 plus 3.4 percentage points; and 2.17 (5) for calendar year 1998, therate of growthcost 2.18 containment goal must not exceed the change in the regional 2.19 consumer price index for urban consumers for calendar year 1997 2.20 plus 2.6 percentage points. 2.21 The commissioner shall adjust thegrowth limitcost 2.22 containment goal set for calendar year 1995 to recover savings 2.23 in health care spending required for the period July 1, 1993, to 2.24 December 31, 1993. 2.25 (c) The commissioner shall publish: 2.26 (1) the projectedlimitscost containment goal in the State 2.27 Register by April 15 of the year immediately preceding the year 2.28 in which thelimitcost containment goal will be effective 2.29 except for the year 1993, in which thelimitcost containment 2.30 goal shall be published by July 1, 1993; 2.31 (2) the quarterly change in the regional consumer price 2.32 index for urban consumers; and 2.33 (3) the health care financing administration forecast for 2.34 total growth in the national health care expenditures. In 2.35 settingan annual limitthe cost containment goals, the 2.36 commissioner is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of 3.1 chapter 14. The commissioner's decision onan annual limitthe 3.2 cost containment goals is not appealable. 3.3 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.04, 3.4 subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 3.5 Subd. 1a. [ADJUSTED GROWTH LIMITS AND ENFORCEMENTCOST 3.6 CONTAINMENT GOALS.](a)The commissioner shall publish the final 3.7 adjustedgrowth limitcost containment goal in the State 3.8 Register by January 31 of the year that theexpenditure limit3.9 cost containment goal is to be in effect. The adjustedlimit3.10 cost containment goal must reflect the actual regional consumer 3.11 price index for urban consumers for the previous calendar year, 3.12 and may deviate from the previously published projectedgrowth3.13limitscost containment goal to reflect differences between the 3.14 actual regional consumer price index for urban consumers and the 3.15 projected Consumer Price Index for urban consumers. The 3.16 commissioner shall report to the legislature by February 15 of 3.17 each year on the implementation of thegrowth limitscost 3.18 containment goal. This annual report shall describe the 3.19 differences between the projected increase in health care 3.20 expenditures, the actual expenditures based on data collected, 3.21 and the impact and validity ofgrowth limitscost containment 3.22 goals within the overall health care reform strategy. 3.23(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the Minnesota3.24health care commission, shall research and include in the annual3.25report required in paragraph (a) for 1996, recommendations3.26regarding the implementation of growth limits for health plan3.27companies and providers. The commissioner shall:3.28(1) consider both spending and revenue approaches and3.29report on the implementation of the interim limits as defined in3.30sections 62J.041 and 62J.042;3.31(2) make recommendations regarding the enforcement3.32mechanism and consider mechanisms to adjust future growth limits3.33as well as mechanisms to establish financial penalties for3.34noncompliance;3.35(3) address the feasibility of systemwide limits imposed on3.36all integrated service networks; and4.1(4) make recommendations on the most effective way to4.2implement growth limits on the fee-for-service system in the4.3absence of a regulated all-payer system.4.4(c) The commissioner shall enforce limits on growth in4.5spending for health plan companies and revenues for providers.4.6If the commissioner determines that artificial inflation or4.7padding of costs or prices has occurred in anticipation of the4.8implementation of growth limits, the commissioner may adjust the4.9base year spending totals or growth limits or take other action4.10to reverse the effect of the artificial inflation or padding.4.11(d) The commissioner shall impose and enforce overall4.12limits on growth in spending for health plan companies, with4.13adjustments for changes in enrollment, benefits, severity, and4.14risks. If a health plan company exceeds the growth limits, the4.15commissioner may impose financial penalties up to the amount4.16exceeding the applicable growth limit.4.17 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.04, 4.18 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 4.19 Subd. 3. [COST CONTAINMENT DUTIES.] After obtaining the 4.20 advice and recommendations of the Minnesota health care 4.21 commission, the commissioner shall: 4.22 (1) establish statewide and regionallimits on growth in4.23 cost containment goals for total health care spending under this 4.24 section,and collect data as described in sections 62J.37 to 4.25 62J.41 to monitor statewidecompliance with the spending limits,4.26and take action to achieve compliance to the extent authorized4.27by the legislatureachievement of the cost containment goals; 4.28 (2) divide the state into no fewer than four regions, with 4.29 one of those regions being the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan 4.30 statistical area but excluding Chisago, Isanti, Wright, and 4.31 Sherburne counties, for purposes of fostering the development of 4.32 regional health planning and coordination of health care 4.33 delivery among regional health care systems and working to 4.34 achievespending limitsthe cost containment goals; 4.35 (3) provide technical assistance to regional coordinating 4.36 boards; 5.1 (4) monitor the quality of health care throughout the state 5.2 and take action as necessary to ensure an appropriate level of 5.3 quality; 5.4 (5) issue recommendations regarding uniform billing forms, 5.5 uniform electronic billing procedures and data interchanges, 5.6 patient identification cards, and other uniform claims and 5.7 administrative procedures for health care providers and private 5.8 and public sector payers. In developing the recommendations, 5.9 the commissioner shall review the work of the work group on 5.10 electronic data interchange (WEDI) and the American National 5.11 Standards Institute (ANSI) at the national level, and the work 5.12 being done at the state and local level. The commissioner may 5.13 adopt rules requiring the use of the Uniform Bill 82/92 form, 5.14 the National Council of Prescription Drug Providers (NCPDP) 3.2 5.15 electronic version, the Health Care Financing Administration 5.16 1500 form, or other standardized forms or procedures; 5.17 (6) undertake health planning responsibilities as provided 5.18 in section 62J.15; 5.19 (7) authorize, fund, or promote research and 5.20 experimentation on new technologies and health care procedures; 5.21 (8) within the limits of appropriations for these purposes, 5.22 administer or contract for statewide consumer education and 5.23 wellness programs that will improve the health of Minnesotans 5.24 and increase individual responsibility relating to personal 5.25 health and the delivery of health care services, undertake 5.26 prevention programs including initiatives to improve birth 5.27 outcomes, expand childhood immunization efforts, and provide 5.28 start-up grants for worksite wellness programs;and5.29 (9) undertake other activities to monitor and oversee the 5.30 delivery of health care services in Minnesota with the goal of 5.31 improving affordability, quality, and accessibility of health 5.32 care for all Minnesotans; and 5.33 (10) make the cost containment goal data available to the 5.34 public in a consumer-oriented manner. 5.35 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.041, is 5.36 amended to read: 6.1 62J.041 [INTERIM HEALTH PLAN COMPANYEXPENDITURE LIMITS6.2 COST CONTAINMENT GOALS.] 6.3 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of this 6.4 section, the following definitions apply. 6.5 (b) "Health plan company" has the definition provided in 6.6 section 62Q.01. 6.7 (c) "Total expenditures" means incurred claims or 6.8 expenditures on health care services, administrative expenses, 6.9 charitable contributions, and all other payments made by health 6.10 plan companies out of premium revenues. 6.11 (d) "Net expenditures" means total expenditures minus 6.12 exempted taxes and assessments and payments or allocations made 6.13 to establish or maintain reserves. 6.14 (e) "Exempted taxes and assessments" means direct payments 6.15 for taxes to government agencies, contributions to the Minnesota 6.16 comprehensive health association, the medical assistance 6.17 provider's surcharge under section 256.9657, the MinnesotaCare 6.18 provider tax under section 295.52, assessments by the health 6.19 coverage reinsurance association, assessments by the Minnesota 6.20 life and health insurance guaranty association, assessments by 6.21 the Minnesota risk adjustment association, and any new 6.22 assessments imposed by federal or state law. 6.23 (f) "Consumer cost-sharing or subscriber liability" means 6.24 enrollee coinsurance, copayment, deductible payments, and 6.25 amounts in excess of benefit plan maximums. 6.26 Subd. 2. [ESTABLISHMENT.] The commissioner of health shall 6.27 establishlimits oncost containment goals for the increase in 6.28 net expenditures by each healthcarrierplan company for 6.29 calendar years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. Thelimitscost 6.30 containment goals must be the same as the annualrate of growth6.31incost containment goals for health care spending established 6.32 under section 62J.04, subdivision 1, paragraph (b). Health plan 6.33 companies that are affiliates may elect to meet one 6.34 combinedexpenditure limitcost containment goal. 6.35 Subd. 3. [DETERMINATION OF EXPENDITURES.] Health plan 6.36 companies shall submit to the commissioner of health, by April 7.1 1, 1994, for calendar year 1993; April 1, 1995, for calendar 7.2 year 1994; April 1, 1996, for calendar year 1995; April 1, 1997, 7.3 for calendar year 1996; and April 1, 1998, for calendar year 7.4 1997 all information the commissioner determines to be necessary 7.5 to implementand enforcethis section. The information must be 7.6 submitted in the form specified by the commissioner. The 7.7 information must include, but is not limited to, expenditures 7.8 per member per month or cost per employee per month, and 7.9 detailed information on revenues and reserves. The 7.10 commissioner, to the extent possible, shall coordinate the 7.11 submittal of the information required under this section with 7.12 the submittal of the financial data required under chapter 62J, 7.13 to minimize the administrative burden on health plan companies. 7.14 The commissioner may adjust final expenditure figures for 7.15 demographic changes, risk selection, changes in basic benefits, 7.16 and legislative initiatives that materially change health care 7.17 costs, as long as these adjustments are consistent with the 7.18 methodology submitted by the health plan company to the 7.19 commissioner, and approved by the commissioner as actuarially 7.20 justified. The methodology to be used for adjustments and the 7.21 election to meet oneexpenditure limitcost containment goal for 7.22 affiliated health plan companies must be submitted to the 7.23 commissioner by September 1, 1994. Community integrated service 7.24 networks may submit the information with their application for 7.25 licensure. The commissioner shall also accept changes to 7.26 methodologies already submitted. The adjustment methodology 7.27 submitted and approved by the commissioner must apply to the 7.28 data submitted for calendar years 1994 and 1995. The 7.29 commissioner may allow changes to accepted adjustment 7.30 methodologies for data submitted for calendar years 1996 and 7.31 1997. Changes to the adjustment methodology must be received by 7.32 September 1, 1996, and must be approved by the commissioner. 7.33 Subd. 4. [MONITORING OF RESERVES.] (a) The commissioners 7.34 of health and commerce shall monitor health plan company 7.35 reserves and net worth as established under chapters 60A, 62C, 7.36 62D, 62H, and 64B, with respect to the health plan companies 8.1 that each commissioner respectively regulates toensure8.2thatassess the degree to which savings resulting from the 8.3 establishment ofexpenditure limitscost containment goals are 8.4 passed on to consumers in the form of lower premium rates. 8.5 (b) Health plan companies shall fully reflect in the 8.6 premium rates the savings generated by theexpenditure limits8.7 cost containment goals. No premium rate, currently reviewed by 8.8 the departments of health or commerce, may be approved for those 8.9 health plan companies unless the health plan company establishes 8.10 to the satisfaction of the commissioner of commerce or the 8.11 commissioner of health, as appropriate, that the proposed new 8.12 rate would comply with this paragraph. 8.13 (c) Health plan companies, except those licensed under 8.14 chapter 60A to sell accident and sickness insurance under 8.15 chapter 62A, shall annually before the end of the fourth fiscal 8.16 quarter provide to the commissioner of health or commerce, as 8.17 applicable, a projection of the level of reserves the company 8.18 expects to attain during each quarter of the following fiscal 8.19 year. These health plan companies shall submit with required 8.20 quarterly financial statements a calculation of the actual 8.21 reserve level attained by the company at the end of each quarter 8.22 including identification of the sources of any significant 8.23 changes in the reserve level and an updated projection of the 8.24 level of reserves the health plan company expects to attain by 8.25 the end of the fiscal year. In cases where the health plan 8.26 company has been given a certificate to operate a new health 8.27 maintenance organization under chapter 62D, or been licensed as 8.28 an integrated service network or community integrated service 8.29 network under chapter 62N, or formed an affiliation with one of 8.30 these organizations, the health plan company shall also submit 8.31 with its quarterly financial statement, total enrollment at the 8.32 beginning and end of the quarter and enrollment changes within 8.33 each service area of the new organization. The reserve 8.34 calculations shall be maintained by the commissioners as trade 8.35 secret information, except to the extent that such information 8.36 is also required to be filed by another provision of state law 9.1 and is not treated as trade secret information under such other 9.2 provisions. 9.3 (d) Health plan companies in paragraph (c) whose reserves 9.4 are less than the required minimum or more than the required 9.5 maximum at the end of the fiscal year shall submit a plan of 9.6 corrective action to the commissioner of health or commerce 9.7 under subdivision 7. 9.8 (e) The commissioner of commerce, in consultation with the 9.9 commissioner of health, shall report to the legislature no later 9.10 than January 15, 1995, as to whether the concept of a reserve 9.11 corridor or other mechanism for purposes of monitoring reserves 9.12 is adaptable for use with indemnity health insurers that do 9.13 business in multiple states and that must comply with their 9.14 domiciliary state's reserves requirements. 9.15 Subd. 5. [NOTICE.] The commissioner of health shall 9.16 publish in the State Register and make available to the public 9.17 by July 1, 1995, a list of all health plan companies that 9.18 exceeded theirexpenditure limitcost containment goal for the 9.19 1994 calendar year. The commissioner shall publish in the State 9.20 Register and make available to the public by July 1, 1996, a 9.21 list of all health plan companies that exceeded their 9.22 combinedexpenditure limitcost containment goal for calendar 9.23 years 1994 and 1995. The commissioner shall notify each health 9.24 plan company that the commissioner has determined that the 9.25 health plan company exceeded itsexpenditure limitcost 9.26 containment goal, at least 30 days before publishing the list, 9.27 and shall provide each health plan company with ten days to 9.28 provide an explanation for exceeding theexpenditure limitcost 9.29 containment goal. The commissioner shall review the explanation 9.30 and may change a determination if the commissioner determines 9.31 the explanation to be valid. 9.32 Subd. 6. [ASSISTANCE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCE.] The 9.33 commissioner of commerce shall provide assistance to the 9.34 commissioner of health in monitoring health plan companies 9.35 regulated by the commissioner of commerce.The commissioner of9.36commerce, in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall10.1enforce compliance with expenditure limits for those health plan10.2companies.10.3Subd. 7. [ENFORCEMENT.] (a) The commissioners of health10.4and commerce shall enforce the reserve limits referenced in10.5subdivision 4, with respect to the health plan companies that10.6each commissioner respectively regulates. Each commissioner10.7shall require health plan companies under the commissioner's10.8jurisdiction to submit plans of corrective action when the10.9reserve requirement is not met. The plan of correction must10.10address the following:10.11(1) actuarial assumptions used in forecasting future10.12financial results;10.13(2) trend assumptions used in setting future premiums;10.14(3) demographic, geographic, and private and public sector10.15mix of the population covered by the health plan company;10.16(4) proposed rate increases or decreases;10.17(5) growth limits applied under section 62J.04, subdivision10.181, paragraph (b); and10.19(6) other factors deemed appropriate by the health plan10.20company or commissioner.10.21If the health plan company's reserves exceed the required10.22maximum, the plan of correction shall address how the health10.23plan company will come into compliance and set forth a timetable10.24within which compliance would be achieved. The plan of10.25correction may propose premium refunds, credits for prior10.26premiums paid, policyholder dividends, or any combination of10.27these or other methods which will benefit enrollees and/or10.28Minnesota residents and are such that the reserve requirements10.29can reasonably be expected to be met. The commissioner's10.30evaluation of the plan of correction must consider:10.31(1) whether implementation of the plan would provide the10.32company with an unfair advantage in the market;10.33(2) the extent to which the reserve excess was created by10.34any movement of enrolled persons to another organization formed10.35by the company;10.36(3) whether any proposed premium refund, credit, and/or11.1dividend represents an equitable allocation to policyholders11.2covered in prior periods as determined using sound actuarial11.3practice; and11.4(4) any other factors deemed appropriate by the applicable11.5commissioner.11.6(b) The plan of correction is subject to approval by the11.7commissioner of health or commerce, as applicable. If such a11.8plan is not approved by the applicable commissioner, the11.9applicable commissioner shall enter an order stating the steps11.10that the health plan company must take to come into compliance.11.11Within 30 days of the date of such order, the health plan11.12company must file a notice of appeal with the applicable11.13commissioner or comply with the commissioner's order. If an11.14appeal is filed, such appeal is governed by chapter 14.11.15(c) Health plan companies that exceed the expenditure11.16limits based on two-year average expenditure data (1994 and11.171995, 1996 and 1997) shall be required by the appropriate11.18commissioner to pay back the amount exceeding the expenditure11.19limit through an assessment on the health plan company. A11.20health plan company may appeal the commissioner's order to pay11.21back the amount exceeding the expenditure limit by mailing to11.22the commissioner a written notice of appeal within 30 days from11.23the date the commissioner's order was mailed. The contested11.24case and judicial review provisions of chapter 14 apply to the11.25appeal. The health plan company shall pay the amount specified11.26by the commissioner either to the commissioner or into an escrow11.27account until final resolution of the appeal. Notwithstanding11.28sections 15.472 to 15.475, each party is responsible for its own11.29fees and expenses, including attorneys fees, for the appeal.11.30Any amount required to be paid back under this section shall be11.31deposited in the health care access fund. The appropriate11.32commissioner may approve a different repayment method to take11.33into account the health plan company's financial condition.11.34Health plan companies shall comply with the limits but shall11.35also guarantee that their contractual obligations are met.11.36Health plan companies are prohibited from meeting spending12.1obligations by increasing subscriber liability, including12.2copayments and deductibles and amounts in excess of benefit plan12.3maximums.12.4 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.301, 12.5 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 12.6 Subd. 3. [GENERAL DUTIES.] The commissioner shall: 12.7 (1) collect and maintain data which enable population-based 12.8 monitoring and trending of the access, utilization, quality, and 12.9 cost of health care services within Minnesota; 12.10 (2) collect and maintain data for the purpose of estimating 12.11 total Minnesota health care expenditures and trends; 12.12 (3) collect and maintain data for the purposes of setting 12.13limitscost containment goals under section 62J.04, and 12.14 measuringgrowth limitcost containment goal compliance; 12.15 (4) conduct applied research using existing and new data 12.16 and promote applications based on existing research; 12.17 (5) develop and implement data collection procedures to 12.18 ensure a high level of cooperation from health care providers 12.19 and health plan companies, as defined in section 62Q.01, 12.20 subdivision 4; 12.21 (6) work closely with health plan companies and health care 12.22 providers to promote improvements in health care efficiency and 12.23 effectiveness; and 12.24 (7) participate as a partner or sponsor of private sector 12.25 initiatives that promote publicly disseminated applied research 12.26 on health care delivery, outcomes, costs, quality, and 12.27 management. 12.28 Sec. 6. [REPEALER.] 12.29 Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 62J.042, is repealed.