Bill Text: TX HB1907 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to review by the office of public insurance counsel of rate filings by health benefit plan issuers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-04 - Referred to Insurance [HB1907 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB1907-Introduced.html
83R10142 SCL-D | ||
By: Eiland | H.B. No. 1907 |
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relating to review by the office of public insurance counsel of rate | ||
filings by health benefit plan issuers. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 501, Insurance Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 501.1545 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 501.1545. ROLE OF PUBLIC COUNSEL IN HEALTH BENEFIT | ||
PLAN RATE FILINGS. (a) In this section, "health benefit plan" | ||
means an insurance policy, insurance agreement, evidence of | ||
coverage, or other similar coverage document that provides coverage | ||
for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health | ||
condition, accident, or sickness. | ||
(b) On request by the commissioner, the public counsel may | ||
review all rate filings and additional information provided under | ||
this code or rules adopted under this code by the issuer of a health | ||
benefit plan. Confidential information reviewed under this | ||
subsection remains confidential. | ||
(c) The public counsel, not later than the 30th day after | ||
the date of a rate filing described by Subsection (b), may file with | ||
the commissioner a written objection to: | ||
(1) the rate filing; or | ||
(2) the criteria on which the issuer of a health | ||
benefit plan relied to determine the rate. | ||
(d) A written objection filed under Subsection (c) must | ||
contain the reasons for the objection. | ||
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
of this Act, the commissioner of insurance shall apply for a federal | ||
premium review grant under Section 1003, Patient Protection and | ||
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300gg-94). The commissioner | ||
shall include in the grant request an amount the office of public | ||
insurance counsel determines is sufficient to allow the office of | ||
public insurance counsel to implement Section 501.1545, Insurance | ||
Code, as added by this Act. The commissioner shall allocate part of | ||
the grant to the office of public insurance counsel based on the | ||
proportion of the amount the office bears to the total amount | ||
requested. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |