Report Title:

Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act

 

Description:

Amends the Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act by prohibiting certain unfair or deceptive business practices by managed care plans, such as disenrolling a person because of a medical condition.  Effective January 1, 2050.  (SB3015 HD1)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3015

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 432E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§432E‑    Unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the managed care plan business.  (a)  The following are defined as unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the managed care plan business and shall be prohibited:

     (1)  Canceling or nonrenewing an enrollment or subscription in the managed care plan because of the enrollee's or subscriber's health status;

     (2)  Rescinding or modifying an authorization for a specific type of treatment by a provider after the provider renders or begins rendering the health care service in good faith and pursuant to the managed care plan's authorization;

     (3)  Changing the premium rates, copayments, coinsurances, or deductibles of a contract after receipt of payment by the managed care plan of the premium for the first month of coverage in accordance with the contract effective date; provided that changes shall be allowed if authorized or required in the group contract, if the contract was agreed to under a preliminary agreement that states that it is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement, or if the managed care plan and the contract-holder mutually agree in writing;

     (4)  Engaging in post-claims underwriting.  As used in this paragraph, "post-claims underwriting" means the rescinding, canceling, or limiting of a managed care plan contract due to the managed care plan's failure to complete medical underwriting and resolve all reasonable questions arising from written information that the managed care plan requires enrollees or subscribers to submit before issuing the managed care plan contract.  This paragraph shall not limit a managed care plan's remedies upon a showing of an enrollee's or subscriber's wilful misrepresentation; and

     (5)  Establishing an eligible charge for a nonparticipating provider service that is different from the eligible charge paid for the same service rendered by a participating provider.  As used in this paragraph, "eligible charge" means the amount that is payable by the managed care plan for a treatment, service, or supply, prior to making deduction for cost-sharing.

     (b)  The commissioner, by certified mail, shall notify the managed care plan of each complaint filed with the commissioner under this section.

     (c)  A managed care plan shall issue a written response with reasonable promptness, in no case more than fifteen working days, to any notification or written inquiry made by the commissioner regarding a complaint.  The response shall be more than an acknowledgment that the commissioner's communication has been received and shall completely and substantively address the complaint or concerns stated in the communication.

     (d)  If it is found, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, that an insurer has violated this section, the violation shall be subject to section 431:2-203.

     (e)  Evidence as to numbers and types of complaints to the commissioner against a managed care plan and the commissioner's complaint experience with other managed care plans shall be admissible in an administrative or judicial proceeding brought under this section."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.