SENATE BILL No. 1152

 

 

November 9, 2016, Introduced by Senator HANSEN and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 2007 PA 106, entitled

 

"Public employees health benefit act,"

 

by amending section 9 (MCL 124.79).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 9. (1) In addition to other requirements as provided in

 

this act, a public employer pooled plan established on or after the

 

effective date of this act October 1, 2007 shall do all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Establish and maintain minimum cash reserves of not less

 

than 25% of the aggregate contributions in the current fiscal year

 

or in the case of new applicants, 25% of the aggregate

 

contributions projected to be collected during its first 12 months

 

of operation, as applicable; or not less than 35% of the claims

 

paid in the preceding fiscal year, whichever is greater. As an

 


alternative, a pooled plan that has operated for 5 years or more

 

may elect to maintain minimum cash reserves in an amount equal to

 

2.5% of the immediately preceding year's claims plus its most

 

recent designated reserve for incurred but not reported claims, as

 

indicated in its financial statement filed with the commissioner

 

under subdivision (b). Reserves established pursuant to this

 

section shall be maintained in a separate, identifiable account and

 

shall not be commingled with other funds of the pooled plan. The

 

pooled plan shall invest the required reserve in the types of

 

investments allowed under section 910, 912, or 914 of the insurance

 

code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.910, 500.912, and 500.914. The

 

Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the pooled plan

 

may satisfy up to 100% of the reserve requirement in the first year

 

of operation, up to 75% of the reserve requirement in the second

 

year of operation, and up to 50% of the reserve requirement in the

 

third and subsequent years of operation, through an irrevocable and

 

unconditional letter of credit. A pooled plan that elects the

 

alternative minimum cash reserve may not satisfy any portion of the

 

reserve requirement with a letter of credit. As used in this

 

subdivision, "letter of credit" means a letter of credit that meets

 

all of the following requirements:

 

     (i) Is issued by a federally insured financial institution.

 

     (ii) Is issued upon such terms and in a form as approved by

 

the commissioner.

 

     (iii) Is subject to draw by the commissioner, upon giving 5

 

business days' written notice to the pooled plan, or by the pooled

 

plan for the member's benefit if the pooled plan is unable to pay


claims as they come due.

 

     (b) Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, file

 

with the commissioner financial statements audited by a certified

 

public accountant. An actuarial opinion regarding reserves for

 

known claims and associated expenses and incurred but not reported

 

claims and associated expenses, in accordance with subdivision (d),

 

shall be included in the audited financial statement. The opinion

 

shall be rendered by an actuary approved by the commissioner or who

 

has 5 or more years of experience in this field.

 

     (c) Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, file

 

with the commissioner unaudited financial statements, affirmed by

 

an appropriate officer or agent of the pooled plan.

 

     (d) Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, file

 

with the commissioner a report certifying that the pooled plan

 

maintains reserves that are sufficient to meet its contractual

 

obligations, and that it maintains coverage for excess loss as

 

required in this act.

 

     (e) File with the commissioner a schedule of premium

 

contributions, rates, and renewal projections.

 

     (f) Possess a written commitment, binder, or policy for excess

 

loss insurance issued by an insurer authorized to do business in

 

this state in an amount approved by the commissioner. The binder or

 

policy shall provide not less than 30 days' notice of cancellation

 

to the commissioner.

 

     (g) Establish a procedure, to the satisfaction of the

 

commissioner, for handling claims for benefits in the event of

 

dissolution of the pooled plan.


     (h) Provide for administration of the plan using personnel of

 

the pooled plan, provided that the pooled plan has within its own

 

organization adequate facilities and competent personnel to service

 

the medical benefit plan, or by awarding a competitively bid

 

contract, to an authorized third party administrator, an insurer, a

 

nonprofit health care corporation, or other entity authorized to

 

provide services in connection with a noninsured medical benefit

 

plan.

 

     (2) If the commissioner finds that a pooled plan's reserves

 

are not sufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (1)(a),

 

the commissioner shall order the pooled plan to immediately collect

 

from any public employer that is or has been a member of the pooled

 

plan appropriately proportionate contributions sufficient to

 

restore reserves to the required level. The commissioner may take

 

such action as he or she considers necessary, including, but not

 

limited to, ordering the suspension or dissolution of a pooled

 

plan, if the pooled plan is consistently failing to maintain

 

reserves as required in this section, is using methods and

 

practices that render further transaction of business hazardous or

 

injurious to its members, employees, beneficiaries, or to the

 

public, has failed, after written request by the commissioner, to

 

remove or discharge an officer, director, trustee, or employee who

 

has been convicted of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or

 

moral turpitude, has failed or refused to furnish any report or

 

statement required under this act, or if the commissioner, upon

 

investigation, determines that it is conducting business

 

fraudulently or is not meeting its contractual obligations in good


faith. Any proceedings by the commissioner under this subsection

 

shall be are governed by the requirements and procedures of

 

sections 7074 to 7078 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218,

 

MCL 500.7074 and to 500.7078.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.