ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2130	By:	Steele and McCullough of the House

			   and

		Jolley of the Senate

An Act relating to insurance; amending Section 2, Chapter 128, O.S.L. 2009 (36 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 4602), which relates to the duties of the Health Care for the Uninsured Board; providing that the Executive Director shall advise and aid Board; specifying the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be the Executive Director; providing for appointment of Board; specifying backgrounds of appointees; providing for the appointment of the original Board; specifying term of Board membership; providing for appointment of vacant positions; requiring initial meeting of Board; directing State Department of Health to provide space for meetings; changing agencies that direct implementation and duties of the Board; directing Board to apply for certain grants and funds; modifying Insurance Commissioner duties; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     Section 2, Chapter 128, O.S.L. 2009 (36 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 4602), is amended to read as follows:
Section 4602.  A.  The Insurance Commissioner in collaboration with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Health Care for the Uninsured Board (HUB) Executive Director shall advise and aid the Health Care for the Uninsured Board (HUB) in its duties.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be the Executive Director.  The Insurance Commissioner Executive Director is hereby authorized to promulgate such reasonable rules as are necessary to implement the purposes of this act.
B.  1.  The Health Care for the Uninsured Board shall consist of:
a.	three members to be appointed by the Governor who shall represent the actuarial interests of the top ten health insurance providers in the state who have expressed a commitment to participate in the HUB,
b.	one member to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate who shall represent the interests of insurance agents in the state,
c.	one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall represent the interests of Oklahoma employers,
d.	the Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, or designee,
e.	the Insurance Commissioner, or designee,
f.	one member who shall represent the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board, and
g.	one member who shall represent the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council.
2.  Appointees shall represent interests affected by insurance exchange requirements, including business interests, consumers and insurance providers.
3.  The original Board shall be appointed as follows:
a.	the Governor shall appoint one member for a term of two (2) years, and two members for a term of three (3) years, 
b.	the President Pro Tempore of the Senate appointee  shall serve for a term of two (2) years, and
c.	the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointee shall serve for a term of three (3) years.
4.  All terms after the initial term shall be for three (3) years.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as that position was originally filled.
5.  The Board shall meet initially no later than December 15, 2011. 
6.  The State Department of Health shall provide space for meetings of the Board.
C.  The State Board of Health Executive Director shall direct the implementation and duties of the HUB to assist the Insurance Commissioner.  The duties of the HUB shall be to:
1.  Advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Insurance Commissioner as to the matters addressed in subsection C D of this section; and
2.  Assist and advise the Insurance Commissioner on such other matters as the Commissioner may submit for recommendations to the State Board of Health;
3.  Apply for grants or other federal Medicaid funds available to implement the provisions of the Health Care for Oklahomans Act;
4.  Establish a system of counseling, including a website, for those individuals who are without health insurance and are not covered by Medicaid, that includes but is not limited to:
a.	educating consumers about insurance programs certified by the state in accordance with this section,
b.	aiding consumers in choosing policies that cover medically necessary services for that consumer, and
c.	educating consumers on how to utilize primary and preventative care in order to reduce the unnecessary utilization of services by the consumer; and 
5.  Establish a system whereby if an individual qualifies for a subsidy under the premium assistance program, established in Section 1010.1 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes, that person is able to become enrolled through the HUB in conjunction with local, qualified insurance producers.
C. D.  The Insurance Commissioner shall:
1.  Establish a system of certification for insurance programs offered in this state to be recommended offered by the HUB;
2.  Establish a system for the credentialing of insurance producers who intend to market insurance programs certified by the state in accordance with this section; and
3.  Establish a system of counseling, including a website, for those individuals who are without health insurance and are not covered by Medicaid, that includes but is not limited to:
a.	educating consumers about insurance programs certified by the state in accordance with this section,
b.	aiding consumers in choosing policies that cover medically necessary services for that consumer, and
c.	educating consumers on how to utilize primary and preventative care in order to reduce the unnecessary utilization of services by the consumer; and
4.  Establish a system whereby if an individual qualifies for a subsidy under the premium assistance program, established in Section 1010.1 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes, that person is able to become enrolled through the HUB in conjunction with local, qualified insurance producers for the certification of low-cost health insurance programs designed to provide coverage to eligible individuals.  Such programs shall not be required to include certain mandates.  The Board may recommend that plans certified by the Commissioner be offered statewide to eligible individuals.
E.  The HUB shall receive no general revenue appropriations, but shall be funded by grants awarded to the state.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2011.
Passed the House of Representatives the 17th day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate