HEALTH CARE: INDEPENDENT REVIEW S.B. 1426 & H.B. 6032: ENROLLED ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1426 (as enrolled) PUBLIC ACT 495 of 2006
House Bill 6032 (as enrolled) PUBLIC ACT 542 of 2006
Sponsor: Senator Bev Hammerstrom (S.B. 1426)
Representative Roger Kahn (H.B. 6032)
Senate Committee: Health Policy
House Committee: Health Policy
Date Completed: 1-11-07
RATIONALE
Under Michigan law, an individual has the right to seek an independent review when his or her health carrier denies a claim. A patient first must file a grievance with the health carrier and undergo the internal grievance process. If the patient is unsatisfied with the outcome, he or she may request the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) to conduct an external review under the Patient's Right to Independent Review Act. Under the Act, "health carrier" originally did not include a State department or agency. Thus, government employees were precluded from using the independent review process available to others. It was suggested that the definition of "health carrier" should exclude only a State department or agency administering the Medicaid program, and that health insurers that contract with governmental units should be required to implement internal and external review procedures.
CONTENT
Senate Bill 1426 created a new act to require an entity that contracts with the State or a local unit of government for health care services provided under a self-funded plan established or maintained by the State or that local unit for its employees, to establish procedures and make available to people covered by the plan internal and external reviews as though the entity were an insurer subject to the Insurance Code and a health carrier under the Patient's Right to Independent Review Act.
House Bill 6032 amended the Patient's Right to Independent Review Act to exclude from the definition of "health carrier" a State department or agency administering the Medicaid program, rather than a State department or agency.
The bills took effect on December 29, 2006. They are described below in further detail.
Senate Bill 1426
Under the bill, an entity that contracts with a State or local unit of government to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services provided under a self-funded plan established or maintained by the State or local unit for its employees must do both of the following:
-- Establish procedures and make available to people covered by the plan internal reviews as though the entity were an insurer subject to Section 2213 of the Insurance Code.
-- Establish procedures and make available to people covered by the plan external reviews in the same manner and subject to all the obligations, conditions, and consequences as though the entity were a health carrier under the Patient's Right to Independent Review Act.
(Section 2213 of the Insurance Code requires insurers to establish an internal formal grievance procedure for people covered under a disability insurance or health maintenance organization (HMO) policy, certificate, or contract.)
The OFIS Commissioner must provide external reviews under this provision to a person covered by the State or local self-funded plan as though he or she were a covered person under the Patient's Right to Independent Review Act.
The bill specifies that it does not apply to a self-funded plan that provides coverage only for dental, vision care, or any other limited supplemental benefit.
Under the bill, "local unit of government" means any political subdivision of the State, including a school district, community or junior college, State university, city, village, township, charter township, county, charter county, authority created by the State, or authority created by another local unit of government.
House Bill 6032
The Patient's Right to Independent Review Act authorizes an individual to request the OFIS Commissioner to review an adverse determination by the individual's health carrier, and prescribes the review process.
"Health carrier" means an entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this State, or subject to the jurisdiction of the OFIS Commissioner, that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services, including a sickness and accident insurance company, an HMO, a nonprofit health care corporation, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, health benefits, or health services. Previously, the term did not include a State department or agency. Under the bill, the term excludes a State department or agency administering the Medicaid program.
MCL 550.1951-550.1953 (S.B. 1426)
550.1903 (H.B. 6032)
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The bills extend to State and local governmental employees the same rights to independent review as those afforded private sector employees, closing an unfair loophole in the previous law. The independent review process constitutes a system of checks and balances in the health insurance industry and provides an avenue through which a consumer who feels that his or her claim has been denied unfairly can appeal the denial. Every Michigan citizen should have the right to an independent review, whether his or her employer is private or public.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 1426
The bill will increase the costs of the Office of Financial and Insurance Services within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth by a small but unknown amount, due to a potential for increases in the external reviews provided by OFIS that are authorized by the bill. The Office of Financial and Insurance Services is funded entirely by restricted funds.
State and local governments operating self-funded health plans might see a minimal cost increase in complying with the internal and external review processes required by the bill.
House Bill 6032
The bill will have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt
Maria TyszkiewiczAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1426&hb6032/0506