SENATE BILL No. 453

 

 

May 1, 2003, Introduced by Senator GEORGE and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1980 PA 350, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "The nonprofit health care corporation reform act,"                         

                                                                                

    by amending sections 204, 206, 211, 301, 303, 304, 306, 307, 602,           

                                                                                

    607, 608, and 609 (MCL 550.1204, 550.1206, 550.1211, 550.1301,              

                                                                                

    550.1303, 550.1304, 550.1306, 550.1307, 550.1602, 550.1607,                 

                                                                                

    550.1608, and 550.1609), section 211 as amended by 1993 PA 127,             

                                                                                

    section 301 as amended by 1988 PA 45, section 608 as amended by             

                                                                                

    1991 PA 73, and section 609 as amended by 1991 PA 61, and by                

                                                                                

    adding sections 204a, 205a, 206a, 301a, 306a, 403c, 502b, and               

                                                                                

    502c; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.                                 

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 204.  (1) Before entering into contracts or securing                   

                                                                                

2   applications of subscribers, the persons incorporating a health             

                                                                                

3   care corporation shall file all of the following in the office of           

                                                                                

4   the commissioner:                                                           

                                                                                


                                                                                

1       (a) Three copies of the articles of incorporation, with the                 

                                                                                

2   certificate of the attorney general required under section 202(3)           

                                                                                

3   attached.                                                                   

                                                                                

4       (b) A statement showing in full detail the plan upon which                  

                                                                                

5   the corporation proposes to transact business.                              

                                                                                

6       (c) A copy of all certificates to be issued to subscribers.                 

                                                                                

7       (d) A copy of the financial statements of the corporation.                  

                                                                                

8       (e) Proposed advertising to be used in the solicitation of                  

                                                                                

9   certificates for subscribers.                                               

                                                                                

10      (f) A copy of the bylaws.                                                   

                                                                                

11      (g) A copy of all proposed contracts and reimbursement                      

                                                                                

12  methods.                                                                    

                                                                                

13      (2) The commissioner shall examine the statements and                       

                                                                                

14  documents filed under subsection (1), may conduct any                       

                                                                                

15  investigation  which  that he or she considers necessary, may               

                                                                                

16  request additional oral and written information from the                    

                                                                                

17  incorporators, and may examine under oath any persons interested            

                                                                                

18  in or connected with the proposed health care corporation.  The             

                                                                                

19  commissioner shall ascertain whether all of the following                   

                                                                                

20  conditions are met:                                                         

                                                                                

21      (a) The solicitation of certificates will not work a fraud                  

                                                                                

22  upon the persons solicited by the corporation.                              

                                                                                

23      (b) The rates to be charged and the benefits to be provided                 

                                                                                

24  are adequate, equitable, and not excessive, as defined in section           

                                                                                

25  609.                                                                        

                                                                                

26      (c) The amount of money actually available for working                      

                                                                                

27  capital is sufficient to carry all acquisition costs and                    


                                                                                

1   operating expenses for a reasonable period of time from the date            

                                                                                

2   of issuance of the certificate of authority, and is not less than           

                                                                                

3   $500,000.00 or a greater amount, if the commissioner considers it           

                                                                                

4   necessary.                                                                  

                                                                                

5       (d) The amounts contributed as the working capital of the                   

                                                                                

6   corporation are payable only out of amounts in excess of minimum            

                                                                                

7   required reserves of the corporation.                                       

                                                                                

8       (e) Adequate and  reasonable reserves are provided, as                      

                                                                                

9   defined in section 205  unimpaired surplus is provided, as                  

                                                                                

10  determined under section 204a.                                              

                                                                                

11      (3) If the commissioner finds that the conditions prescribed                

                                                                                

12  in subsection (2) are met, the commissioner shall do all of the             

                                                                                

13  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

14      (a) Return to the incorporators 1 copy of the articles of                   

                                                                                

15  incorporation, certified for filing with the  chief officer                 

                                                                                

16  director of the department of  commerce  consumer and industry              

                                                                                

17  services or of any other agency or department authorized by law             

                                                                                

18  to administer  Act No. 284 of the Public Acts of 1972, as                   

                                                                                

19  amended, being sections 450.1101 to 450.2099 of the Michigan                

                                                                                

20  Compiled Laws  the business corporation act, 1972 PA 284, MCL               

                                                                                

21  450.1101 to 450.2098, or his or her designated representative,              

                                                                                

22  and 1 copy of the articles of incorporation certified for the               

                                                                                

23  records of the corporation itself.                                          

                                                                                

24      (b) Retain 1 copy of the articles of incorporation for the                  

                                                                                

25  commissioner's office files.                                                

                                                                                

26      (c) Deliver to the corporation a certificate of authority to                

                                                                                

27  commence business and to issue certificates  which  that have               


                                                                                

1   been approved by the commissioner, or  which  that are exempted             

                                                                                

2   from prior approval pursuant to section 607(2) or (7), entitling            

                                                                                

3   subscribers to certain health care benefits.                                

                                                                                

4       Sec. 204a.  (1) A health care corporation shall possess and                 

                                                                                

5   maintain unimpaired surplus in an amount determined adequate by             

                                                                                

6   the commissioner to comply with section 403 of the insurance code           

                                                                                

7   of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.403.  The commissioner shall take             

                                                                                

8   into account the risk-based capital requirements as developed by            

                                                                                

9   the national association of insurance commissioners in order to             

                                                                                

10  determine adequate compliance with section 403 of the insurance             

                                                                                

11  code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.403.                                     

                                                                                

12      (2) If a health care corporation files a risk-based capital                 

                                                                                

13  report that indicates that its surplus is less than the amount              

                                                                                

14  determined adequate by the commissioner under subsection (1), the           

                                                                                

15  health care corporation shall prepare and submit a plan for                 

                                                                                

16  remedying the deficiency in accordance with risk-based capital              

                                                                                

17  requirements adopted by the commissioner.  Among the remedies               

                                                                                

18  that a health care corporation may employ are planwide viability            

                                                                                

19  contributions to surplus by subscribers.                                    

                                                                                

20      (3) If contributions for planwide viability under subsection                

                                                                                

21  (2) are employed, those contributions shall be made in accordance           

                                                                                

22  with the following:                                                         

                                                                                

23      (a) If the health care corporation's surplus is less than                   

                                                                                

24  200% but more than 150% of the authorized control level under               

                                                                                

25  risk-based capital requirements, the maximum contribution rate              

                                                                                

26  shall be 0.5% of the rate charged to subscribers for the benefits           

                                                                                

27  provided.                                                                   


                                                                                

1       (b) If the health care corporation's surplus is 150% or less                

                                                                                

2   than the authorized control level under risk-based capital                  

                                                                                

3   requirements, the maximum contribution rate shall be 1% of the              

                                                                                

4   rate charged to subscribers for the benefits provided.                      

                                                                                

5       (c) The actual contribution rate charged is subject to the                  

                                                                                

6   commissioner's approval.                                                    

                                                                                

7       (4) As used in subsection (3), "authorized control level"                   

                                                                                

8   means the number determined under the risk-based capital formula            

                                                                                

9   in accordance with the instructions developed by the national               

                                                                                

10  association of insurance commissioners and adopted by the                   

                                                                                

11  commissioner.                                                               

                                                                                

12      Sec. 205a.  A health care corporation shall report financial                

                                                                                

13  information in conformity with sound actuarial practices and                

                                                                                

14  statutory accounting principles, including approved permitted               

                                                                                

15  practices, in the same manner as designated by the commissioner             

                                                                                

16  for other carriers pursuant to section 438(2) of the insurance              

                                                                                

17  code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.438.                                     

                                                                                

18      Sec. 206.  (1) The funds and property of a health care                      

                                                                                

19  corporation shall be acquired, held, and disposed of only for the           

                                                                                

20  lawful purposes of the corporation and for the benefit of the               

                                                                                

21  subscribers of the corporation as a whole.  A health care                   

                                                                                

22  corporation shall only transact  such  business, receive,                   

                                                                                

23  collect, and disburse  such  money, and acquire, hold, protect,             

                                                                                

24  and convey  such  property,  as are  that is properly within the            

                                                                                

25  scope of the purposes of the corporation as specifically set                

                                                                                

26  forth in section 202(1)(d), for the benefit of the subscribers of           

                                                                                

27  the corporation as a whole, and consistent with this act.                   


                                                                                

1       (2) The funds of a health care corporation shall be invested                

                                                                                

2   only in securities permitted by the laws of this state for the              

                                                                                

3   investments of assets of life insurance companies, as described             

                                                                                

4   in chapter 9 of  Act No. 218 of the Public Acts of 1956, as                 

                                                                                

5   amended, being sections 500.901 to 500.947 of the Michigan                  

                                                                                

6   Compiled Laws  the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL                 

                                                                                

7   500.901 to 500.947.                                                         

                                                                                

8       (3) Without regard to the limitation in subsection (2), up to               

                                                                                

9   2% of the assets of the health care corporation may be invested             

                                                                                

10  in venture-type investments.  For purposes of calculating  the              

                                                                                

11  contingency reserve pursuant to section 205  adequate and                   

                                                                                

12  unimpaired surplus under section 204a, a venture-type investment            

                                                                                

13  shall be carried on the books of a health care corporation at the           

                                                                                

14  original acquisition cost, and losses may only be realized as an            

                                                                                

15  offset against gains from venture-type investments.  All                    

                                                                                

16  venture-type investments under this subsection shall provide                

                                                                                

17  employment or capital investment primarily within this state.               

                                                                                

18  Each investment under this subsection  shall be  is subject to              

                                                                                

19  prior approval by the board of directors.  As used in this                  

                                                                                

20  subsection, "venture-type investments" include:                             

                                                                                

21      (a) Common stock, preferred stock, limited partnerships, or                 

                                                                                

22  similar equity interests acquired from the issuer subject to a              

                                                                                

23  provision barring resale without consent of the issuer for 5                

                                                                                

24  years from the date of acquisition by the corporation.                      

                                                                                

25      (b) Unsecured debt instruments  which  that are either                      

                                                                                

26  convertible into equity or have equity acquisition rights.  These           

                                                                                

27  debt instruments shall be subordinated by their terms to all                


                                                                                

1   borrowings of the issuer from other institutional lenders and               

                                                                                

2   shall have no part amortized during the first 5 years.                      

                                                                                

3       (4) A health care corporation shall not market or transact,                 

                                                                                

4   as defined in sections 402a and 402b of  Act No. 218 of the                 

                                                                                

5   Public Acts of 1956, being sections 500.402a and 500.402b of the            

                                                                                

6   Michigan Compiled Laws  the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218,            

                                                                                

7   MCL 500.402a and 500.402b, any type of insurance described in               

                                                                                

8   chapter 6 of  Act No. 218 of the Public Acts of 1956, as amended,           

                                                                                

9   being sections 500.600 to 500.644 of the Michigan Compiled Laws             

                                                                                

10  the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.600 to 500.644.            

                                                                                

11  This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the provision            

                                                                                

12  of prepaid health care benefits.                                            

                                                                                

13      Sec. 206a.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this act,                

                                                                                

14  a health care corporation shall not establish, invest in,                   

                                                                                

15  purchase, own, hold, or otherwise acquire, either directly or               

                                                                                

16  indirectly, any network of, or legal entity that has established            

                                                                                

17  a network of, health care facilities or providers.  If, prior to            

                                                                                

18  the effective date of this section, a health care facility has              

                                                                                

19  established, has invested in, has purchased, owns, holds, or has            

                                                                                

20  otherwise acquired, either directly or indirectly, any network              

                                                                                

21  of, or legal entity that has established a network of, health               

                                                                                

22  care facilities or providers, the health care corporation shall             

                                                                                

23  divest itself of any interest in the network or legal entity by             

                                                                                

24  not later than 2 years after the effective date of this section.            

                                                                                

25      Sec. 211.  (1) Pursuant to section 207(1)(g), a health care                 

                                                                                

26  corporation may enter into service contracts containing an                  

                                                                                

27  administrative services only or cost-plus arrangement.  Except as           


                                                                                

1   otherwise provided in this section, a corporation shall not enter           

                                                                                

2   into a service contract containing an administrative services               

                                                                                

3   only or cost-plus arrangement for a noninsured benefit plan                 

                                                                                

4   covering a group of less than 500 individuals, except that a                

                                                                                

5   health care corporation may continue an administrative services             

                                                                                

6   only or cost-plus arrangement with a group of less than 500,                

                                                                                

7   which arrangement is in existence in September of 1980.  A                  

                                                                                

8   corporation may enter into contracts containing an administrative           

                                                                                

9   services only or cost-plus arrangement for a noninsured benefit             

                                                                                

10  plan covering a group of less than 500 individuals if either the            

                                                                                

11  corporation makes arrangements for excess loss coverage or the              

                                                                                

12  sponsor of the plan that covers the individuals is liable for the           

                                                                                

13  plan's liabilities and is a sponsor of 1 or more plans covering a           

                                                                                

14  group of 500 or more individuals in the aggregate.  The                     

                                                                                

15  commissioner, upon obtaining the advice of the corporations                 

                                                                                

16  subject to this act, shall establish the standards for the manner           

                                                                                

17  and amount of the excess loss coverage required by this                     

                                                                                

18  subsection.  It is the intent of the legislature that the excess            

                                                                                

19  loss coverage requirements be uniform as between corporations               

                                                                                

20  subject to this act and other persons authorized to provide                 

                                                                                

21  similar services.  The corporation shall offer in connection with           

                                                                                

22  a noninsured benefit plan a program of specific or aggregate                

                                                                                

23  excess loss coverage.                                                       

                                                                                

24      (2) Relative to actual administrative costs, fees for                       

                                                                                

25  administrative services only and cost-plus arrangements shall be            

                                                                                

26  set in a manner that precludes cost transfers between subscribers           

                                                                                

27  subject to either of these arrangements and other subscribers of            


                                                                                

1   the health care corporation.  Administrative costs for these                

                                                                                

2   arrangements shall be determined in accordance with the                     

                                                                                

3   administrative costs allocation methodology and definitions filed           

                                                                                

4   and approved under part 6, and shall be expressed clearly and               

                                                                                

5   accurately in the contracts establishing the arrangements, as a             

                                                                                

6   percentage of costs rather than charges.  This subsection shall             

                                                                                

7   not be construed to prohibit the inclusion, in fees charged, of             

                                                                                

8   contributions to  the contingency reserve of the corporation,               

                                                                                

9   consistent with section 205  adequate and unimpaired surplus as             

                                                                                

10  provided in section 204a.                                                   

                                                                                

11      (3) Before a health care corporation may enter into contracts               

                                                                                

12  containing administrative services only or cost-plus arrangements           

                                                                                

13  pursuant to section 207(1)(g), the board of directors of the                

                                                                                

14  corporation shall approve a marketing policy  with respect to               

                                                                                

15  such  for these arrangements that is consistent with  the                   

                                                                                

16  provisions of  this section.  The marketing policy may contain              

                                                                                

17  other provisions as the board considers necessary.  The marketing           

                                                                                

18  policy shall be carried out by the corporation consistent with              

                                                                                

19  this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

20      (4) A corporation providing services under a contract                       

                                                                                

21  containing an administrative services only or cost-plus                     

                                                                                

22  arrangement in connection with a noninsured benefit plan shall              

                                                                                

23  provide in its service contract a provision that the person                 

                                                                                

24  contracting for the services in connection with a noninsured                

                                                                                

25  benefit plan shall notify each covered individual of what                   

                                                                                

26  services are being provided; the fact that individuals are not              

                                                                                

27  insured or are not covered by a certificate from the corporation,           


                                                                                

1   or are only partially insured or are only partially covered by a            

                                                                                

2   certificate from the corporation, as the case may be; which party           

                                                                                

3   is liable for payment of benefits; and of future changes in                 

                                                                                

4   benefits.                                                                   

                                                                                

5       (5) A service contract containing an administrative services                

                                                                                

6   only arrangement between a corporation and a governmental entity            

                                                                                

7   not subject to the employee retirement income security act of               

                                                                                

8   1974, Public Law 93-406, 88 Stat. 829, whose plan provides                  

                                                                                

9   coverage under a collective bargaining agreement utilizing a                

                                                                                

10  policy or certificate issued by a carrier before the signing of             

                                                                                

11  the service contract, is void unless the governmental entity has            

                                                                                

12  provided the notice described in subsection (4) to the collective           

                                                                                

13  bargaining agent and to the members of the collective bargaining            

                                                                                

14  unit not less than 30 days before signing the service contract.             

                                                                                

15  The voiding of a service contract under this subsection shall not           

                                                                                

16  relieve the governmental entity of any obligations to the                   

                                                                                

17  corporation under the service contract.                                     

                                                                                

18      (6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an                 

                                                                                

19  actionable interference by a corporation with the rights and                

                                                                                

20  obligations of the parties under a collective bargaining                    

                                                                                

21  agreement.                                                                  

                                                                                

22      (7) An individual covered under a noninsured benefit plan for               

                                                                                

23  which services are provided under a service contract authorized             

                                                                                

24  under subsection (1)  shall  is not  be  liable for that portion            

                                                                                

25  of claims incurred and subject to payment under the plan if the             

                                                                                

26  service contract is entered into between an employer and a                  

                                                                                

27  corporation, unless that portion of the claim has been paid                 


                                                                                

1   directly to the covered individual.                                         

                                                                                

2       (8) A corporation shall report with its annual statement the                

                                                                                

3   amount of business it has conducted as services provided under              

                                                                                

4   subsection (1) that are performed in connection with a noninsured           

                                                                                

5   benefit plan, and the commissioner shall transmit annually this             

                                                                                

6   information to the state  commissioner of revenue  treasurer.               

                                                                                

7   The commissioner shall submit to the legislature on April 1,                

                                                                                

8   1994, a report detailing the impact of this section on employers            

                                                                                

9   and covered individuals, and similar activities under other                 

                                                                                

10  provisions of law, and in consultation with the  revenue                    

                                                                                

11  commissioner  state treasurer the total financial impact on the             

                                                                                

12  state for the preceding legislative biennium.                               

                                                                                

13      (9) As used in this section, "noninsured benefit plan" or                   

                                                                                

14  "plan" means a health benefit plan without coverage by a health             

                                                                                

15  care corporation, health maintenance organization, or insurer or            

                                                                                

16  the portion of a health benefit plan without coverage by a health           

                                                                                

17  care corporation, health maintenance organization, or insurer               

                                                                                

18  that has a specific or aggregate excess loss coverage.                      

                                                                                

19      Sec. 301.  (1)  The  Except as otherwise provided in section                

                                                                                

20  301a, the property and lawful business of a health care                     

                                                                                

21  corporation existing and authorized to do business under this act           

                                                                                

22  shall be held and managed by a board of directors to consist of             

                                                                                

23  not more than 35 members.  The board shall exercise the powers              

                                                                                

24  and authority necessary to carry out the lawful purposes of the             

                                                                                

25  corporation, as limited by this act and the articles of                     

                                                                                

26  incorporation and the bylaws of the corporation.                            

                                                                                

27      (2)  Four  Except as otherwise provided in section 301a, 4                  


                                                                                

1   voting members of the board shall be representatives of the                 

                                                                                

2   public appointed by the governor by and with the advice and                 

                                                                                

3   consent of the senate.  Two of those members shall be retired               

                                                                                

4   individuals 62 years of age or older.  The term of office of each           

                                                                                

5   representative of the public shall be 2 years, and until a                  

                                                                                

6   successor is appointed and qualified.  If a vacancy occurs before           

                                                                                

7   the conclusion of a 2-year term, the appointment of a                       

                                                                                

8   representative to complete the term shall be made in the same               

                                                                                

9   manner as the original appointment.                                         

                                                                                

10      (3)  The board of directors shall consist of not more than                  

                                                                                

11  25% provider directors.  In addition to physician and hospital              

                                                                                

12  provider directors, not less than 1 provider director shall be a            

                                                                                

13  registered professional nurse who shall be representative of                

                                                                                

14  licensees under part 172 of the public health code, Act No.  368            

                                                                                

15  of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended, being sections 333.17201            

                                                                                

16  to 333.17242 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and not less than 1             

                                                                                

17  provider director shall be representative of the provider whose             

                                                                                

18  services, in the 1984 calendar year in the case of an existing              

                                                                                

19  health care corporation, or, in the calendar year immediately               

                                                                                

20  following incorporation in the case of a newly-formed health care           

                                                                                

21  corporation, generated the largest number of benefit claims                 

                                                                                

22  received by the corporation from its subscribers.  Other provider           

                                                                                

23  directors shall be as broadly representative of provider classes            

                                                                                

24  as possible.  The terms of all provider board of director members           

                                                                                

25  shall end on the effective date of section 301a.                            

                                                                                

26      (4) The bylaws of a health care corporation may authorize not               

                                                                                

27  more than 1 officer or employee of the corporation to serve as a            


                                                                                

1   voting or nonvoting director.                                               

                                                                                

2       (5)  The  Except as otherwise provided in section 301a, the                 

                                                                                

3   remaining members of the board of directors shall include                   

                                                                                

4   representatives of large subscriber groups, medium subscriber               

                                                                                

5   groups, small subscriber groups, and nongroup subscribers, in               

                                                                                

6   proportions  which  that fairly represent the total subscriber              

                                                                                

7   population of the health care corporation.  However, at least 3             

                                                                                

8   directors shall represent nongroup subscribers, at least 1 of               

                                                                                

9   whom shall be a retired individual 62 years of age or older, and            

                                                                                

10  at least 3 directors shall represent small subscriber groups.               

                                                                                

11  Large and medium subscriber groups shall be represented, to the             

                                                                                

12  greatest extent possible, by an equal number of labor and                   

                                                                                

13  management representatives and shall be categorized as labor                

                                                                                

14  subscriber representatives or management subscriber                         

                                                                                

15  representatives.                                                            

                                                                                

16      (6) The method of selection of the directors, other than the                

                                                                                

17  directors who are representatives of the public,  and additional            

                                                                                

18  provisions and requirements for further refinement or                       

                                                                                

19  specification regarding the number of directors comprising each             

                                                                                

20  component  shall be specified in the bylaws.  The  terms of                 

                                                                                

21  office of directors  method for filling vacancies in the offices            

                                                                                

22  of directors, other than the directors who are representatives of           

                                                                                

23  the public,  and the method for filling vacancies in those                  

                                                                                

24  offices  shall be provided in the bylaws.   However, if a term of           

                                                                                

25  office of more than 1 year is prescribed by the bylaws, at least            

                                                                                

26  1/3 of the members of the board shall be selected each year.  The           

                                                                                

27  term of office of any director except the term of office of the             


                                                                                

1   director under section 301a(3)(f) shall not exceed 3 years, and             

                                                                                

2   at least 1/3 of the members of the board, excluding the director            

                                                                                

3   under section 301a(3)(f), shall be selected each year.  The                 

                                                                                

4   bylaws shall provide that all members of the board shall be                 

                                                                                

5   reimbursed only for all reasonable and necessary expenses                   

                                                                                

6   incurred in carrying out their duties under this act and shall              

                                                                                

7   not receive any compensation for services to the health care                

                                                                                

8   corporation as director.                                                    

                                                                                

9       (7) The method of selection of each category of subscribers                 

                                                                                

10  entitled to representation on the board under  subsection (5)               

                                                                                

11  this act shall maximize subscriber participation to the extent              

                                                                                

12  reasonably practicable.  This subsection  shall permit  permits,            

                                                                                

13  but does not require, the statewide election of a director.  or             

                                                                                

14  member of the corporate body.  The method of selection  shall               

                                                                                

15  neither  permit  permits nor  require  requires nomination,                 

                                                                                

16  endorsement, approval, or confirmation of a candidate or director           

                                                                                

17  by the  corporate body, the  board of directors,  or  the                   

                                                                                

18  management of the health care corporation, or any member or                 

                                                                                

19  members of any of these.  This subsection  shall  does not apply            

                                                                                

20  to the selection of an officer or employee as a director pursuant           

                                                                                

21  to subsection (4).  This subsection  shall  does not limit the              

                                                                                

22  rights of any director  , member of the corporate body,  or                 

                                                                                

23  employee or officer of the health care corporation to participate           

                                                                                

24  in the selection process in his or her capacity as a subscriber,            

                                                                                

25  to the same extent as any other subscriber may participate.                 

                                                                                

26      (8) For the purposes of this section:                                       

                                                                                

27      (a) "Health care provider" or "provider" includes:                          


                                                                                

1                                                                                (i) A person defined as a health care provider or provider in                       

                                                                                

2   section 105(4); a person employed by a health care facility, as             

                                                                                

3   defined in section 105(3); or a director, officer, or trustee of            

                                                                                

4   a health care provider, as defined in section 105(4), unless the            

                                                                                

5   person serves in that capacity as a representative selected by              

                                                                                

6   the same subscriber group or collective bargaining representative           

                                                                                

7   which the person represents on the board of a health care                   

                                                                                

8   corporation.                                                                

                                                                                

9       (ii) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a spouse, child,                 

                                                                                

10  or parent of a health care provider who resides in the same                 

                                                                                

11  household.                                                                  

                                                                                

12      (iii) A person who receives more than 25% of his or her                      

                                                                                

13  annual income through the provision of goods or services to                 

                                                                                

14  health care providers, or who is an employee, officer, trustee,             

                                                                                

15  or director of a firm or organization which receives more than              

                                                                                

16  25% of its annual income through the provision of goods or                  

                                                                                

17  services to health care providers.                                          

                                                                                

18      (b) For purposes of determining whether a director is a                     

                                                                                

19  provider director, "health care provider" or "provider" does not            

                                                                                

20  include a spouse, child, or parent of a health care provider who            

                                                                                

21  resides in the same household if all of the following criteria              

                                                                                

22  are met:                                                                    

                                                                                

23                                                                               (i) Not more than 1/3 of the total annual household income is                       

                                                                                

24  earned by that health care provider.                                        

                                                                                

25      (ii) The term of office of the director commences in the 1988                

                                                                                

26  calendar year.                                                              

                                                                                

27      (iii) Not more than 2 directors qualify for the exemption                    


                                                                                

1   under this subdivision.                                                     

                                                                                

2       (8)  (9)  A director shall not be an employee, agent,                       

                                                                                

3   officer, or director of an insurance company writing disability             

                                                                                

4   insurance inside or outside this state.                                     

                                                                                

5       Sec. 301a.  (1) All board of director members whose terms                   

                                                                                

6   expire in April of 2004 shall not be reappointed or replaced.               

                                                                                

7       (2) By June 30, 2004, the board of directors shall submit a                 

                                                                                

8   plan to the commissioner detailing how it will reduce the size of           

                                                                                

9   the board by December 31, 2004 to 13 members including the chief            

                                                                                

10  executive officer.  The plan shall be consistent with the                   

                                                                                

11  requirements of this act and shall provide that an individual               

                                                                                

12  shall not serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the board.  If a           

                                                                                

13  plan is not submitted by June 30, 2004, then the commissioner,              

                                                                                

14  after consultation with the board of directors, shall formulate             

                                                                                

15  and place into effect a plan consistent with this act.  The plan            

                                                                                

16  submitted by the board of directors shall be considered to meet             

                                                                                

17  the requirements of this act if it is not disapproved by written            

                                                                                

18  order of the commissioner on or before October 1, 2004.  As part            

                                                                                

19  of a disapproval order, the commissioner shall notify the board             

                                                                                

20  of directors in what respect all or any part of the plan                    

                                                                                

21  submitted by the board of directors fails to meet the                       

                                                                                

22  requirements of this act.  Not later than 30 days after the date            

                                                                                

23  of the disapproval order, the board of directors shall submit a             

                                                                                

24  revised plan that meets the requirements of this act.  If the               

                                                                                

25  board of directors fails to submit a revised plan or if the                 

                                                                                

26  submitted revised plan does not meet the requirements of this               

                                                                                

27  act, as determined by the commissioner, then the commissioner               


                                                                                

1   shall immediately formulate and place into effect a plan                    

                                                                                

2   consistent with this act.                                                   

                                                                                

3       (3) Effective January 1, 2005, the board of directors shall                 

                                                                                

4   consist of 13 members as follows:                                           

                                                                                

5       (a) Three public members appointed by the governor with the                 

                                                                                

6   advice and consent of the senate, at least 1 of whom shall be 62            

                                                                                

7   years of age or older, and who shall represent the public                   

                                                                                

8   interest in the charitable and benevolent mission of the                    

                                                                                

9   nonprofit health insurer.                                                   

                                                                                

10      (b) One member representing nongroup subscribers.                           

                                                                                

11      (c) Two members representing self-insured groups.                           

                                                                                

12      (d) Three members representing small subscriber groups.                     

                                                                                

13      (e) Three members representing medium/large subscriber                      

                                                                                

14  groups.                                                                     

                                                                                

15      (f) The chief executive officer of the nonprofit health                     

                                                                                

16  insurer.                                                                    

                                                                                

17      Sec. 303.  (1) Regular or special meetings of the board or a                

                                                                                

18  board committee  of the board  shall be held within this state.             

                                                                                

19  With respect to regular or special meetings of the board or a               

                                                                                

20  board committee,  of the board,  the bylaws shall include                   

                                                                                

21  provisions regarding all of the following:                                  

                                                                                

22      (a) The minimum number of regular meetings to be held each                  

                                                                                

23  year.                                                                       

                                                                                

24      (b) The publication and advance distribution of an agenda,                  

                                                                                

25  including provisions respecting the time and place of the meeting           

                                                                                

26  and the business to be conducted.  Notice of meetings and the               

                                                                                

27  meeting agenda shall be posted on the health core corporation's             


                                                                                

1   website as soon as practical after publication or dissemination             

                                                                                

2   under this subdivision.                                                     

                                                                                

3       (c) Voting procedures.  The use of proxies and round robins                 

                                                                                

4   shall not be allowed.                                                       

                                                                                

5       (2) Notice of a regular meeting shall be given at least 15                  

                                                                                

6   days before the meeting and notice of a special meeting shall be            

                                                                                

7   given at least 24 hours before the meeting.   Attendance of a               

                                                                                

8   director at a meeting constitutes a waiver of notice of the                 

                                                                                

9   meeting, except in cases in which a director attends a meeting              

                                                                                

10  for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any              

                                                                                

11  business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.            

                                                                                

12  All meetings shall be open to the public except as otherwise                

                                                                                

13  provided in section 304(2).                                                 

                                                                                

14      (3) Unless otherwise restricted by the articles of                          

                                                                                

15  incorporation or bylaws, a member of the board or of a committee            

                                                                                

16  designated by the board may participate in a meeting by means of            

                                                                                

17  conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means           

                                                                                

18  of which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear              

                                                                                

19  each other.  Participation in a meeting pursuant to this                    

                                                                                

20  subsection constitutes presence in person at the meeting.                   

                                                                                

21      (4) A majority of the board members  of the board  then in                  

                                                                                

22  office, or of the members of a board committee,  thereof,                   

                                                                                

23  constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, unless the            

                                                                                

24  articles or bylaws provide for a larger number.  The vote of the            

                                                                                

25  majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is               

                                                                                

26  present constitutes the action of the board or of the committee,            

                                                                                

27  unless the vote of a larger number is required by this act, the             


                                                                                

1   articles, or the bylaws.  The following actions shall require the           

                                                                                

2   vote of not less than a majority of the members of the board then           

                                                                                

3   in office:                                                                  

                                                                                

4       (a) Adoption of bylaws, amendments to bylaws, or repealers                  

                                                                                

5   of bylaws.                                                                  

                                                                                

6       (b) Adoption of articles of incorporation, amendments to                    

                                                                                

7   articles, or repealers of articles.                                         

                                                                                

8       (c) The proposal or establishment of rates or rating                        

                                                                                

9   systems; the adoption of provider class plans or provider                   

                                                                                

10  contracts; or the adoption of compensation for officers of the              

                                                                                

11  corporation.                                                                

                                                                                

12      (5) The bylaws shall provide that a record roll call vote                   

                                                                                

13  shall be taken at the request of any 5 board members.  The vote             

                                                                                

14  of each member shall be recorded in the minutes.                            

                                                                                

15      Sec. 304.  (1) A health care corporation shall keep accurate                

                                                                                

16  books and records of account and complete and detailed minutes of           

                                                                                

17  the proceedings of the board of directors  of the health care               

                                                                                

18  corporation,  and board committees.  of the board, and the                  

                                                                                

19  corporate body.  The books, records, and minutes may be in                  

                                                                                

20  written form or in any other form capable of being converted into           

                                                                                

21  written form within a reasonable time and shall be made available           

                                                                                

22  electronically to the commissioner.  One copy of the minutes or             

                                                                                

23  draft minutes from each meeting of the board of directors shall             

                                                                                

24  be transmitted to the commissioner within 15 days after the                 

                                                                                

25  meeting was held.  Upon the request of a member of the board of             

                                                                                

26  directors, consistent with the board member's fiduciary duty                

                                                                                

27  under section 310, a subscriber shall receive, within 15 days               


                                                                                

1   after receipt of the request, a copy of the minutes or draft                

                                                                                

2   minutes of 1 or more meetings of the board  , its  or board                 

                                                                                

3   committee  , or the corporate body,  and may be charged not more            

                                                                                

4   than the reasonable cost of copying and postage.                            

                                                                                

5       (2) Minutes shall be kept and need not be disclosed, except                 

                                                                                

6   to the commissioner as provided in section 603, for those                   

                                                                                

7   portions of meetings  which  that are held for the following                

                                                                                

8   purposes:                                                                   

                                                                                

9       (a) To consider the hiring, promotion, dismissal, suspension,               

                                                                                

10  or discipline of an employee.                                               

                                                                                

11      (b) To consider the purchase, lease, or sale of real                        

                                                                                

12  property.                                                                   

                                                                                

13      (c) For strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the                

                                                                                

14  negotiations of a collective bargaining agreement when either               

                                                                                

15  party requests a closed meeting.                                            

                                                                                

16      (d) For trial or settlement strategy sessions in connection                 

                                                                                

17  with specific contemplated or pending litigation.  If these                 

                                                                                

18  sessions are with respect to litigation to which the commissioner           

                                                                                

19  or the attorney general is a party, minutes regarding these                 

                                                                                

20  sessions  shall  are not  be  subject to examination and free               

                                                                                

21  access under section 603.                                                   

                                                                                

22      (e) To consider medical records of an individual.                           

                                                                                

23      (f) To consider the acquisition or disposal of certificates                 

                                                                                

24  of stock, bonds, certificates of indebtedness, and other                    

                                                                                

25  intangibles in which the corporation may invest funds under                 

                                                                                

26  section 206, if the information regarding proposed acquisition or           

                                                                                

27  disposal may affect the price paid or received.                             


                                                                                

1       (g) To consider provider appeals when the provider has                      

                                                                                

2   requested a closed hearing.                                                 

                                                                                

3       (h) To discuss marketing strategy with regard to a particular               

                                                                                

4   customer or limited group of customers, or to discuss a new or              

                                                                                

5   changed benefit, the premature disclosure of which would have an            

                                                                                

6   adverse impact on the health care corporation.                              

                                                                                

7       (i) To consider the removal of a director from the board when               

                                                                                

8   the director requests a closed hearing.                                     

                                                                                

9       (3) The date and time of preparation and existence of the                   

                                                                                

10  minutes described in subsection (2), the contents of which shall            

                                                                                

11  not be disclosable except to the commissioner as provided in                

                                                                                

12  section 603, shall be noted in the minutes required to be kept              

                                                                                

13  under subsection (1).  Once action is taken by the board to                 

                                                                                

14  implement a consideration or discussion described in subsection             

                                                                                

15  (2)(b), (f), (g), or (h), once a collective bargaining agreement            

                                                                                

16  is reached as described in subsection (2)(c), once litigation is            

                                                                                

17  no longer pending as described in subsection (2)(d), or once a              

                                                                                

18  closed hearing is concluded as described in subsection (2)(i),              

                                                                                

19  and upon the request of the director to whom the hearing                    

                                                                                

20  pertained, the minutes relating to the consideration, discussion,           

                                                                                

21  or strategy session shall be published and disseminated with the            

                                                                                

22  next succeeding set of minutes published and disseminated under             

                                                                                

23  subsection (1), and may be disclosed by the commissioner to other           

                                                                                

24  persons under section 603(3).                                               

                                                                                

25      (4) The circuit court, upon proof of a proper purpose, may                  

                                                                                

26  compel the production of books and records for examination by a             

                                                                                

27  subscriber or the attorney general.                                         


                                                                                

1       Sec. 306.  (1) A contract or other transaction between a                    

                                                                                

2   health care corporation and 1 or more of its directors or                   

                                                                                

3   officers, or between a health care corporation and any other                

                                                                                

4   corporation, firm, or association of any type or kind in which 1            

                                                                                

5   or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers,             

                                                                                

6   or are otherwise interested, is not void or voidable solely                 

                                                                                

7   because of such common directorship, officership, or interest, or           

                                                                                

8   solely because the directors are present at the meeting of the              

                                                                                

9   board or committee  thereof which  that authorizes or approves              

                                                                                

10  the contract or transaction, if all of the following conditions             

                                                                                

11  are satisfied:                                                              

                                                                                

12      (a) The contract or other transaction is fair and reasonable                

                                                                                

13  to the corporation when it is authorized, approved, or ratified.            

                                                                                

14      (b) The material facts as to the officer's or director's                    

                                                                                

15  relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction              

                                                                                

16  are disclosed or known to the board or committee, and the board             

                                                                                

17  or committee authorizes, approves, or ratifies the contract or              

                                                                                

18  transaction by a vote sufficient for the purpose.  The conditions           

                                                                                

19  of this subdivision shall be considered satisfied only if the               

                                                                                

20  officer or director has announced the potential conflict prior to           

                                                                                

21  the vote, the minutes of the meeting reflect that announcement,             

                                                                                

22  and the officer or director abstained from the vote.                        

                                                                                

23      (2) When the validity of a contract described in subsection                 

                                                                                

24  (1) is questioned, the burden of establishing its validity on the           

                                                                                

25  grounds prescribed is upon the director, officer, corporation,              

                                                                                

26  firm, or association asserting its validity.                                

                                                                                

27      (3) Common or interested directors shall not be counted in                  


                                                                                

1   determining the presence of a quorum at a board or committee                

                                                                                

2   meeting at the time a contract or transaction described in                  

                                                                                

3   subsection (1) is authorized, approved, or ratified.                        

                                                                                

4       (4) The board, by affirmative vote of a majority of                         

                                                                                

5   directors in office and irrespective of any personal interest of            

                                                                                

6   any of them, may establish reasonable compensation of directors             

                                                                                

7   for services to the health care corporation as directors or                 

                                                                                

8   officers of the health care corporation.                                    

                                                                                

9       (4)  (5)  The bylaws of a health care corporation may                       

                                                                                

10  include provisions regarding conflict of interest which are more            

                                                                                

11  stringent than this section.                                                

                                                                                

12      Sec. 306a.  The board shall establish a compensation plan                   

                                                                                

13  for executive and senior level management of the health care                

                                                                                

14  corporation, including any bonus plan tied to performance of the            

                                                                                

15  health care corporation.  The plan is not effective until it is             

                                                                                

16  filed with and approved by the commissioner.  The board shall               

                                                                                

17  notify the commissioner of any bonus issued to an executive or              

                                                                                

18  senior level member of management of the health care corporation            

                                                                                

19  within 10 days of issuance of the bonus.  The board shall                   

                                                                                

20  identify in the compensation plan, subject to the commissioner's            

                                                                                

21  approval, those executive and senior level management positions             

                                                                                

22  covered under the compensation plan.                                        

                                                                                

23      Sec. 307.  (1) The board of directors may establish those                   

                                                                                

24  advisory councils and, unless otherwise provided in the articles            

                                                                                

25  of incorporation or bylaws, those committees it considers                   

                                                                                

26  necessary to perform its duties.   Members of the corporate body            

                                                                                

27  may serve on committees of the board of directors.  With respect            


                                                                                

1   to  committees of the  board committees, the bylaws shall include           

                                                                                

2   provisions regarding all of the following:                                  

                                                                                

3       (a) Provisions  which  that assure that the membership of                   

                                                                                

4   each committee provides for representation of all of the                    

                                                                                

5   components of directors, as defined in the bylaws, to the                   

                                                                                

6   greatest extent practicable.                                                

                                                                                

7       (b) Provisions regarding emergency meetings of the executive                

                                                                                

8   committee of the health care corporation, and action by that                

                                                                                

9   committee on behalf of the board in cases of emergency, as                  

                                                                                

10  defined in and authorized by the bylaws.                                    

                                                                                

11      (2) The board of directors shall establish a provider                       

                                                                                

12  advisory council within 90 days after the effective date of this            

                                                                                

13  subsection.  The provider advisory council shall consist of not             

                                                                                

14  more than 12 members who shall fairly represent the classes of              

                                                                                

15  health care providers with whom the health care corporation                 

                                                                                

16  contracts for services.                                                     

                                                                                

17      (3) The provider advisory council established under                         

                                                                                

18  subsection (2) shall provide advice to the board of directors on            

                                                                                

19  matters concerning the impact of board policies on health care              

                                                                                

20  providers, including, but not limited to, participating                     

                                                                                

21  contracts, coverage for medical services, billing and payment               

                                                                                

22  procedures and practices, and subscriber access to an appropriate           

                                                                                

23  number and mix of health care providers in this state.                      

                                                                                

24      (4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b), a                    

                                                                                

25  council or committee established under this section shall act in            

                                                                                

26  an advisory capacity to the board of directors.  Except as                  

                                                                                

27  otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b), the board of directors             


                                                                                

1   shall meet and approve a council or committee recommendation                

                                                                                

2   before it is implemented.  The minutes of all meetings of                   

                                                                                

3   councils and committees established under this section shall be             

                                                                                

4   given to the members of the board of directors and shall be                 

                                                                                

5   included in the minutes of the board of directors' meetings.                

                                                                                

6       Sec. 403c.  (1) A health care corporation delivering,                       

                                                                                

7   issuing for delivery, or renewing in this state a medium                    

                                                                                

8   subscriber group or large subscriber group certificate shall                

                                                                                

9   furnish to a payor, within 30 days after receiving a written                

                                                                                

10  request therefore and upon payment of a reasonable charge, all of           

                                                                                

11  the following information by coverage component for the                     

                                                                                

12  certificate incurred during the immediately preceding 24-month              

                                                                                

13  period:                                                                     

                                                                                

14      (a) Total number of individuals covered.                                    

                                                                                

15      (b) Total number of claims.                                                 

                                                                                

16      (c) Total dollar amount of claims.                                          

                                                                                

17      (d) Amount paid or allocated to providers on a per individual               

                                                                                

18  basis not included in subdivisions (a) to (c).                              

                                                                                

19      (e) All pertinent information used by the health care                       

                                                                                

20  corporation to make its rates for that group.  This subdivision             

                                                                                

21  does not require the release of any information otherwise exempt            

                                                                                

22  from disclosure under this chapter.  The commissioner shall                 

                                                                                

23  determine not less often than annually what is pertinent                    

                                                                                

24  information under this subdivision.                                         

                                                                                

25      (2) Information furnished under subsection (1) shall not                    

                                                                                

26  disclose personal data that may reveal the identity of a covered            

                                                                                

27  individual.  Information furnished under subsection (1) shall be            


                                                                                

1   collected and provided to a payor based on the group the payor              

                                                                                

2   sponsors.                                                                   

                                                                                

3       (3) As used in this section:                                                

                                                                                

4       (a) "Coverage component" includes, but is not limited to,                   

                                                                                

5   in-patient and out-patient facility coverage, professional                  

                                                                                

6   provider coverage, and pharmacy coverage.                                   

                                                                                

7       (b) "Payor" means the purchaser of group coverage whether the               

                                                                                

8   purchase is made directly from the health care corporation or is            

                                                                                

9   made through a third party administrator, an agency, or another             

                                                                                

10  entity.                                                                     

                                                                                

11      Sec. 502b.  A health care corporation shall submit to the                   

                                                                                

12  commissioner for approval standard participating contract formats           

                                                                                

13  and any substantive changes to those participating contract                 

                                                                                

14  formats.  The contract format or change is considered approved 30           

                                                                                

15  days after filing with the commissioner unless approved or                  

                                                                                

16  disapproved within the 30 days.  As used in this section,                   

                                                                                

17  "substantive changes to those participating contract formats"               

                                                                                

18  means any change to a participating contract that alters the                

                                                                                

19  method of payment to a health care provider, alters the risk, if            

                                                                                

20  any, assumed by each party to the contract, or affects a                    

                                                                                

21  provision required by law.                                                  

                                                                                

22      Sec. 502c.  (1) A health care corporation shall provide                     

                                                                                

23  evidence to the commissioner that it has executed participating             

                                                                                

24  contracts with a sufficient number of health care providers to              

                                                                                

25  enable the health care corporation to deliver health care                   

                                                                                

26  services covered under a certificate.                                       

                                                                                

27      (2) A health care corporation shall establish and maintain                  


                                                                                

1   adequate participating contracts to ensure reasonable proximity             

                                                                                

2   between participating providers and members for the delivery of             

                                                                                

3   covered health care services.  In determining whether a health              

                                                                                

4   care corporation has complied with this subsection, the                     

                                                                                

5   commissioner shall give due consideration to the relative                   

                                                                                

6   availability of health care providers in a geographic area.                 

                                                                                

7       Sec. 602.  (1) Not later than March 1 each year, subject to                 

                                                                                

8   a 30-day extension  which  that may be granted by the                       

                                                                                

9   commissioner, a health care corporation shall file in the office            

                                                                                

10  of the commissioner a sworn statement verified by at least 2 of             

                                                                                

11  the principal officers of the corporation showing its condition             

                                                                                

12  as of the preceding December 31.  The statement shall be in a               

                                                                                

13  form  ,  and contain those matters  , which  that the                       

                                                                                

14  commissioner prescribes for a health care corporation, including            

                                                                                

15  those matters contained in section  205  204a.  The statement               

                                                                                

16  shall include the number of members and the number of                       

                                                                                

17  subscribers' certificates issued by the corporation and                     

                                                                                

18  outstanding.                                                                

                                                                                

19      (2) The commissioner, by order, may require a health care                   

                                                                                

20  corporation to submit statistical, financial, and other reports             

                                                                                

21  for the purpose of monitoring compliance with this act.                     

                                                                                

22      Sec. 607.  (1)  A health care corporation shall submit a                    

                                                                                

23  copy of any new or revised certificate to the commissioner along            

                                                                                

24  with applicable proposed rates and rate rationale.  The                     

                                                                                

25  certificates, and applicable proposed rates, shall be deemed                

                                                                                

26  approved and effective 30 days after filing with the                        

                                                                                

27  commissioner, except as otherwise provided in this section.                 


                                                                                

1   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), if a health care            

                                                                                

2   corporation wants to offer a new certificate, change an existing            

                                                                                

3   certificate, or change a rate charge, a copy of the proposed                

                                                                                

4   revised certificate or proposed rate shall be filed with the                

                                                                                

5   commissioner and shall not take effect until 60 days after the              

                                                                                

6   filing unless the commissioner approves the change in writing               

                                                                                

7   before the expiration of the 60 days. The commissioner may                  

                                                                                

8   subsequently disapprove any certificate  deemed approved  or rate           

                                                                                

9   change.                                                                     

                                                                                

10      (2) The commissioner shall exempt from prior approval                       

                                                                                

11  certificates resulting from a collective bargaining agreement.              

                                                                                

12      (3) The commissioner may disapprove, or approve with                        

                                                                                

13  modifications, a certificate and applicable rates under  1 or               

                                                                                

14  more  either or both of the following circumstances:                        

                                                                                

15      (a) If the rate charged for the benefits provided is not                    

                                                                                

16  equitable, not adequate, or excessive, as defined in section                

                                                                                

17  609.                                                                        

                                                                                

18      (b) If the certificate contains 1 or more provisions  which                 

                                                                                

19  that are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading, deceptive, or             

                                                                                

20  which  that encourage misrepresentation of the coverage.                   

                                                                                

21      (c) If a certificate reduces the scope, amount, or duration                 

                                                                                

22  of benefits so as to have the effect of reducing the                        

                                                                                

23  comprehensiveness of existing health care benefits available to             

                                                                                

24  groups or to individuals.  The commissioner may approve a                   

                                                                                

25  certificate which reduces the scope, amount, or duration of                 

                                                                                

26  health care benefits if the commissioner determines that the                

                                                                                

27  certificate will be offered as an alternative in addition to an             


                                                                                

1   existing certificate which provides comprehensive health care               

                                                                                

2   benefits and if the commissioner determines that approval of the            

                                                                                

3   alternative certificate will not adversely affect the opportunity           

                                                                                

4   for groups or individuals to obtain comprehensive health care               

                                                                                

5   benefits.                                                                   

                                                                                

6       (4) The commissioner shall approve a certificate and                        

                                                                                

7   applicable proposed rates if all of the following conditions are            

                                                                                

8   met:                                                                        

                                                                                

9       (a) If the rate charged for the benefits provided is                        

                                                                                

10  equitable, adequate, and not excessive, as defined in section               

                                                                                

11  609.                                                                        

                                                                                

12      (b) If the certificate does not contain any provision  which                

                                                                                

13  that is unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading, deceptive, or              

                                                                                

14  which  that encourages misrepresentation of the coverage.                  

                                                                                

15      (5) If the commissioner disapproves a certificate and any                   

                                                                                

16  applicable proposed rates under this section, he or she shall               

                                                                                

17  issue a notice of disapproval  which specifies in what respects             

                                                                                

18  specifying how a filing fails to meet the requirements of this              

                                                                                

19  act.  The notice shall state that the filing shall not become               

                                                                                

20  effective.                                                                  

                                                                                

21      (6) If the commissioner approves, or approves with                          

                                                                                

22  modifications, a certificate and any applicable proposed rates              

                                                                                

23  under this section, he or she shall issue a notice of approval or           

                                                                                

24  approval with modifications.  If the notice is of approval with             

                                                                                

25  modifications, the notice shall specify what modifications in the           

                                                                                

26  filing are required for approval under this act, and the reasons            

                                                                                

27  for the modifications.  The notice shall also state that the                


                                                                                

1   filing shall become effective after the modifications are made              

                                                                                

2   and approved by the commissioner.                                           

                                                                                

3       (7) Upon request by a health care corporation, the                          

                                                                                

4   commissioner may allow certificates and rates to be implemented             

                                                                                

5   prior to filing to allow implementation of a new certificate on             

                                                                                

6   the date requested.                                                         

                                                                                

7       Sec. 608.  (1) The rates charged to nongroup subscribers for                

                                                                                

8   each certificate shall be filed in accordance with section  610             

                                                                                

9   and shall be subject to the prior approval of the commissioner              

                                                                                

10  607.  Annually, the commissioner shall approve, disapprove, or              

                                                                                

11  modify and approve the proposed or existing rates for each                  

                                                                                

12  certificate subject to the standard that the rates must be                  

                                                                                

13  determined to be equitable, adequate, and not excessive, as                 

                                                                                

14  defined in section 609.  The burden of proof that rates to be               

                                                                                

15  charged meet these standards shall be upon the health care                  

                                                                                

16  corporation proposing to use the rates.                                     

                                                                                

17      (2)  The  A health care corporation shall file the                          

                                                                                

18  methodology and definitions of each rating system, formula,                 

                                                                                

19  component, and factor used to calculate rates for group                     

                                                                                

20  subscribers for each certificate, including the methodology and             

                                                                                

21  definitions used to calculate administrative costs for                      

                                                                                

22  administrative services only and cost-plus arrangements  , shall            

                                                                                

23  be filed  in accordance with section  610 and shall be subject to           

                                                                                

24  the prior approval of the commissioner  607.  The definition of a           

                                                                                

25  group, including any clustering principles applied to nongroup              

                                                                                

26  subscribers or small group subscribers for the purpose of group             

                                                                                

27  formation,  shall be  is subject to the prior approval of the               


                                                                                

1   commissioner.   However, if a Michigan caring program is created            

                                                                                

2   under section 436, that program shall be defined as a group                 

                                                                                

3   program for the purpose of establishing rates.  The commissioner            

                                                                                

4   shall approve, disapprove, or modify and approve the methodology            

                                                                                

5   and definitions of each rating system, formula, component, and              

                                                                                

6   factor for each certificate subject to the standard that the                

                                                                                

7   resulting rates for group subscribers must be determined to be              

                                                                                

8   equitable, adequate, and not excessive, as defined in section               

                                                                                

9   609.  In addition, the commissioner may from time to time review            

                                                                                

10  the records of the corporation to determine proper application of           

                                                                                

11  a rating system, formula, component, or factor  with respect to             

                                                                                

12  for any group.  The corporation shall refile every 3 years for              

                                                                                

13  approval under this subsection  , every 3 years,  of the                    

                                                                                

14  methodology and definitions of each rating system, formula,                 

                                                                                

15  component, and factor used to calculate rates for group                     

                                                                                

16  subscribers, including the methodology and definitions used to              

                                                                                

17  calculate administrative costs for administrative services only             

                                                                                

18  and cost-plus arrangements.  The burden of proof that the                   

                                                                                

19  resulting rates to be charged meet these standards shall be upon            

                                                                                

20  the health care corporation proposing to use the rating system,             

                                                                                

21  formula, component, or factor.                                              

                                                                                

22      (3) A proposed rate shall not take effect until a filing has                

                                                                                

23  been made with the commissioner and approved under section 607 or           

                                                                                

24  this section, as applicable, except as provided in subsections              

                                                                                

25  (4) and (5).                                                                

                                                                                

26      (4) Upon request by a health care corporation, the                          

                                                                                

27  commissioner may allow rate adjustments to become effective prior           


                                                                                

1   to approval, for federal or state mandated benefit changes.                 

                                                                                

2   However, the health care corporation shall submit a filing for              

                                                                                

3   these adjustments  shall be submitted  before the effective date            

                                                                                

4   of the mandated benefit changes.  If the commissioner disapproves           

                                                                                

5   or modifies and approves the rates, an adjustment  shall be made            

                                                                                

6   is retroactive to the effective date of the mandated benefit                

                                                                                

7   changes or additions.                                                       

                                                                                

8       (5)  Implementation  The commissioner may allow                             

                                                                                

9   implementation prior to approval  may be allowed  if the health             

                                                                                

10  care corporation is participating with 1 or more health care                

                                                                                

11  corporations to underwrite a group whose employees are located in           

                                                                                

12  several states.  Upon request from the commissioner, the                    

                                                                                

13  corporation shall file with the commissioner, and the                       

                                                                                

14  commissioner shall examine, the financial arrangement, formulae,            

                                                                                

15  and factors.  If any are determined to be unacceptable, the                 

                                                                                

16  commissioner shall take appropriate action.                                 

                                                                                

17      Sec. 609.  (1) A rate is not excessive if the rate is not                   

                                                                                

18  unreasonably high relative to the following elements,                       

                                                                                

19  individually or collectively; provision for anticipated benefit             

                                                                                

20  costs; provision for administrative expense; provision for cost             

                                                                                

21  transfers, if any; provision for a contribution to or from  the             

                                                                                

22  corporate contingency reserve that is consistent with the                   

                                                                                

23  attainment or maintenance of the target contingency reserve level           

                                                                                

24  prescribed in section 205  surplus that is consistent with the              

                                                                                

25  attainment or maintenance of adequate and unimpaired surplus as             

                                                                                

26  provided in section 204a; and provision for adjustments due to              

                                                                                

27  prior experience of groups, as defined in the group rating                  


                                                                                

1   system.  A determination as to whether a rate is excessive                  

                                                                                

2   relative to  the  these elements,  listed above,  individually or           

                                                                                

3   collectively, shall be based on the following:  reasonable                  

                                                                                

4   evaluations of recent claim experience; projected trends in claim           

                                                                                

5   costs; the allocation of administrative expense budgets; and the            

                                                                                

6   present and anticipated  contingency reserve positions                      

                                                                                

7   unimpaired surplus of the health care corporation.  To the extent           

                                                                                

8   that any of these elements are considered excessive, the                    

                                                                                

9   provision in the rates for these elements shall be modified                 

                                                                                

10  accordingly.                                                                

                                                                                

11      (2) The administrative expense budget must be reasonable, as                

                                                                                

12  determined by the commissioner after examination of material and            

                                                                                

13  substantial administrative and acquisition expense items.                   

                                                                                

14      (3) A rate is equitable if the rate can be compared to any                  

                                                                                

15  other rate offered by the health care corporation to its                    

                                                                                

16  subscribers, and the observed rate differences can be supported             

                                                                                

17  by differences in anticipated benefit costs, administrative                 

                                                                                

18  expense cost, differences in risk, or any identified cost                   

                                                                                

19  transfer provisions.                                                        

                                                                                

20      (4) A rate is adequate if the rate is not unreasonably low                  

                                                                                

21  relative to the elements prescribed in subsection (1),                      

                                                                                

22  individually or collectively, based on reasonable evaluations of            

                                                                                

23  recent claim experience, projected trends in claim costs, the               

                                                                                

24  allocation of administrative expense budgets, and the present and           

                                                                                

25  anticipated  contingency reserve positions  unimpaired surplus of           

                                                                                

26  the health care corporation.                                                

                                                                                

27      (5) Except for identified cost transfers, each line of                      


                                                                                

1   business, over time, shall be self-sustaining.  However, there              

                                                                                

2   may be cost transfers for the benefit of senior citizens and                

                                                                                

3   group conversion subscribers.  Cost transfers for the benefit of            

                                                                                

4   senior citizens, in the aggregate, annually shall not exceed 1%             

                                                                                

5   of the earned subscription income of the health care corporation            

                                                                                

6   as reported in the most recent annual statement of the                      

                                                                                

7   corporation.  Group conversion subscribers are those who have               

                                                                                

8   maintained coverage with the health care corporation on an                  

                                                                                

9   individual basis after leaving a subscriber group.   The Michigan           

                                                                                

10  caring program created in section 436 is not subject to any                 

                                                                                

11  assessment or surcharge for cost transfer under this subsection.            

                                                                                

12      Enacting section 1.  Sections 205, 305, 610, 612, 613, and                  

                                                                                

13  614 of the nonprofit health care corporation reform act, 1980 PA            

                                                                                

14  350, MCL 550.1205, 550.1305, 550.1610, 550.1612, 550.1613, and              

                                                                                

15  550.1614, are repealed.