Bill Text: OR HB2996 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to benefit plans contracted for by the Public Employees' Benefit Board.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB2996 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-HB2996-Introduced.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 2583 House Bill 2996 Sponsored by Representative RICHARDSON (Presession filed.) SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. Requires Public Employees' Benefit Board to contract for consumer-directed health benefit plan that provides access to high-deductible health plan and health savings accounts for eligible employees. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to benefit plans contracted for by the Public Employees' Benefit Board; amending ORS 243.135 and 292.051. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. ORS 243.135, as amended by section 1, chapter 49, Oregon Laws 2010, is amended to read: 243.135. (1) Notwithstanding any other benefit plan contracted for and offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board, the board shall contract for a health benefit plan or plans best designed to meet the needs and provide for the welfare of eligible employees and the state. In considering whether to enter into a contract for a plan, the board shall place emphasis on: (a) Employee choice among high quality plans; (b) A competitive marketplace; (c) Plan performance and information; (d) Employer flexibility in plan design and contracting; (e) Quality customer service; (f) Creativity and innovation; (g) Plan benefits as part of total employee compensation; and (h) The improvement of employee health. (2) The board may approve more than one carrier for each type of plan contracted for and offered but the number of carriers shall be held to a number consistent with adequate service to eligible employees and their family members. (3) Where appropriate for a contracted and offered health benefit plan, the board shall provide options under which an eligible employee may arrange coverage for family members. (4) Payroll deductions for such costs as are not payable by the state may be made upon receipt of a signed authorization from the employee indicating an election to participate in the plan or plans selected and the deduction of a certain sum from the employee's pay. (5) In developing any health benefit plan, the board may provide an option of additional coverage for eligible employees and their family members at an additional cost or premium. (6) Transfer of enrollment from one plan to another shall be open to all eligible employees and their family members under rules adopted by the board. Because of the special problems that may arise in individual instances under comprehensive group practice plan coverage involving acceptable physician-patient relations between a particular panel of physicians and particular eligible employees and their family members, the board shall provide a procedure under which any eligible employee may apply at any time to substitute a health service benefit plan for participation in a comprehensive group practice benefit plan. (7) The board shall evaluate a benefit plan that serves a limited geographic region of this state according to the criteria described in subsection (1) of this section. { + (8)(a) Notwithstanding any other benefit plan contracted for and offered by the board, the board shall contract for and offer a consumer-directed health plan that provides for access by eligible employees to a high-deductible health plan and health savings accounts authorized under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (b) As used in this subsection, 'high-deductible health plan' and 'health savings account' have the meanings given those terms in 26 U.S.C. 223. + } SECTION 2. ORS 292.051 is amended to read: 292.051. (1) Except as authority over contracts for health benefit plans described in ORS 243.135 is vested in the Public Employees' Benefit Board, upon receipt of the request in writing of an officer or employee so to do, the state official authorized to disburse funds in payment of the salary or wages of the officer or employee may deduct from the salary or wages of the officer or employee an amount of money indicated in the request for payment of the applicable amount set forth in benefit plans selected by the officers or employees or in their behalf for: (a) Group life insurance, including life insurance for dependents of officers or employees. (b) Group dental and related services and supplies, or any other remedial care recognized by state law and related services and supplies, other than medical, surgical or hospital care, recognized under state law, including such insurance for dependents of state officers or employees. (c) Group indemnity insurance for accidental death and dismemberment and for loss of income due to accident, sickness or other disability, including such insurance for dependents of state officers or employees. (d) Automobile casualty insurance under a monthly payroll deduction program endorsed or offered by an employee organization representing 500 or more state employees. Membership in the employee organization is not a requirement for participation in this program. (e) Legal insurance under a monthly payroll deduction program endorsed or offered by an employee organization representing 500 or more state employees. (f) Self-insurance programs that are approved and provided by the Public Employees' Benefit Board. { + (g) Health savings accounts authorized under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. + } (2) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services may establish and collect a fee to cover costs of administering this section. (3) No state official authorized to disburse funds in payment of salaries or wages is required to make deductions as authorized by subsection (1) of this section for more than one benefit plan of the type referred to in each of the paragraphs in subsection (1) of this section per eligible employee. (4) Moneys deducted under subsection (1) of this section shall be paid over promptly: (a) To the insurance companies, agencies or hospital associations, or persons responsible for payment of premiums to the companies, agencies or associations, in accordance with the terms of the contracts made by the officers or employees or in their behalf; or (b) With respect to self-insurance benefits, in accordance with rules, procedures and directions of the Public Employees' Benefit Board. (5) As used in this section, 'officer or employee' means all persons who receive salaries or wages disbursed by any state official. ----------