SF 3621

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/17/2016 08:44am

A bill for an act
relating to MNsure; modifying MNsure's operations funding; requiring
qualifying life events to be processed within certain time periods; requiring
improvements to the small business health options program operated by MNsure;
directing the commissioner of commerce to study ways to stabilize health plan
premiums offered through MNsure; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section
62V.05, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62V.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Operations funding.

(a) deleted text begin Prior to January 1, 2015, MNsure shall retain or
collect up to 1.5 percent of total premiums for individual and small group market health
plans and dental plans sold through MNsure to fund the cash reserves of MNsure, but
the amount collected shall not exceed a dollar amount equal to 25 percent of the funds
collected under section 62E.11, subdivision 6, for calendar year 2012.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) Beginning January 1, 2015, MNsure shall retain or collect up to 3.5 percent of
total premiums for individual and small group market health plans and dental plans sold
through MNsure to fund the operations of MNsure, but the amount collected shall not
exceed a dollar amount equal to 50 percent of the funds collected under section 62E.11,
subdivision 6, for calendar year 2012.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end Beginning January 1, 2016, new text begin through December 31, 2017, new text end MNsure shall retain or
collect up to 3.5 percent of total premiums for individual and small group market health
plans and dental plans sold through MNsure to fund the operations of MNsure, but the
amount collected may never exceed a dollar amount greater than 100 percent of the funds
collected under section 62E.11, subdivision 6, for calendar year 2012.

new text begin (b) Beginning January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, MNsure shall retain or
collect up to three percent of total premiums for individual and small group market health
plans and dental plans sold through MNsure to fund the operation of MNsure, but the
amount collected may never exceed a dollar amount greater than 100 percent of the funds
collected under section 62E.11, subdivision 6, for calendar year 2012.
new text end

new text begin (c) Beginning January 1, 2019, MNsure shall retain or collect up to 2.5 percent of
total premiums for individual and small group market health plans and dental plans sold
through MNsure to fund the operation of MNsure, but the amount collected may never
exceed a dollar amount greater than 100 percent of the funds collected under section
62E.11, subdivision 6, for calendar year 2012.
new text end

(d) deleted text begin For fiscal years 2014 and 2015, the commissioner of management and budget is
authorized to provide cash flow assistance of up to $20,000,000 from the special revenue
fund or the statutory general fund under section 16A.671, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), to
MNsure. Any funds provided under this paragraph shall be repaid, with interest, by June 30,
2015. deleted text end new text begin The funding reductions in paragraphs (b) and (c) shall be implemented in a manner
that does not negatively impact the customer service MNsure provides to consumers.
new text end

(e) Funding for the operations of MNsure shall cover any compensation provided to
navigators participating in the navigator program.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62V.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4a. new text end

new text begin Processing qualifying life events and changes in circumstances.
new text end

new text begin (a) The MNsure board and the commissioner of human services shall jointly develop
procedures to require qualifying life events and changes in circumstances, reported by
persons enrolled through the Minnesota eligibility technology system in a public health
care program or a qualified health plan, to be processed within 30 days of receiving a report
of a qualifying life event or change in circumstances. The procedures must be developed
and implemented no later than September 1, 2016. The commissioner shall communicate
these procedures to county staff in a timely manner and shall provide guidance and
training as necessary to assist county staff in complying with this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, a qualifying life event or change in
circumstances that must be processed within 30 days includes the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) a change of address;
new text end

new text begin (2) a change in enrollment in a federally recognized tribe;
new text end

new text begin (3) a change of a dependent through birth, adoption, foster care, or a child support
order;
new text end

new text begin (4) a change in circumstances resulting in eligibility changes for advanced premium
tax credits or cost-sharing reductions;
new text end

new text begin (5) a change in employer-sponsored insurance resulting in eligibility changes for
advanced premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions;
new text end

new text begin (6) loss of a dependent due to death or divorce;
new text end

new text begin (7) an achievement of citizenship, status as a United States national, or lawfully
present status;
new text end

new text begin (8) loss of health care coverage;
new text end

new text begin (9) marriage;
new text end

new text begin (10) being a victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment;
new text end

new text begin (11) a MNsure mistake related to enrollment, disenrollment, or failure to enroll
in a qualified health plan;
new text end

new text begin (12) a violation of a material provision of a qualified health plan contract; and
new text end

new text begin (13) other life events or changes in circumstances specified by the commissioner or
the MNsure board.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62V.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4b. new text end

new text begin Small business health options program outreach and assistance. new text end

new text begin The
MNsure board and the commissioner of commerce shall jointly develop and implement an
outreach and assistance program to provide small businesses with information about the
small business health options program (SHOP) and assist small businesses with comparing
health plans and obtaining coverage through SHOP. The outreach and assistance program
must provide small businesses with information about the benefits of purchasing coverage
through SHOP and information about using a broker to create an account and choose
coverage through SHOP.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH OPTIONS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin The MNsure board shall develop a plan to improve the operation of the MNsure
portal for small employers using the small business health options program (SHOP) to
compare health plan coverage options and obtain or renew coverage. The plan must
list specific improvements to be made to the portal and must include a timeline for
implementation for each improvement. Initial improvements to the portal must be
implemented in time for the 2017 open enrollment period. The MNsure board shall
provide a report on the plan by September 1, 2016, to the Legislative Oversight Committee
established under Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.11, and shall provide a report on plan
implementation to the Legislative Oversight Committee by March 1, 2017.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFORTS TO STABILIZE MARKETPLACE PREMIUMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) In order to stabilize marketplace premiums, the commissioner of commerce shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) study and create models of potential Minnesota-tailored rate stability mechanisms
for the individual marketplace, such as a reinsurance program;
new text end

new text begin (2) study and create models merging the state's individual and small group markets;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) study options for making the state's rate review process more transparent utilizing
public information and hearings.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall issue a report on the preliminary findings of the studies
listed in paragraph (a) to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over health and marketplace premiums by January 15, 2017.
new text end