2015 -- H 5329

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LC000435

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH

BENEFITS EXCHANGE ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Giarrusso, Reilly, Chippendale, and Price

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 157

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THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE ACT

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     42-157-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Rhode

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Island Health Benefits Exchange Act."

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     42-157-2. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall

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have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent:

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     (1) "Exchange" means the Rhode Island health benefits exchange, a division in the

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executive department established by executive order number 11-09 dated September 19, 2011,

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issued pursuant to the provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub.

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L. 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

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(Pub. L. 111-152), and any amendments to, or regulations or guidance issued under, those acts.

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     (2) "Executive order" means executive order number 11-09 dated September 19, 2011.

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     (3) "Unified health infrastructure project" means the integrated technology program to

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support the exchange.

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     42-157-3. No state operation of health benefits exchange. – (a) On and after January 1,

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2016, no agency, department, or political subdivision of the state of Rhode Island, nor any private

 

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entity contracted with an arm of any state agency, shall collect or expend money or funds from

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any source to further plan, create, participate in or enable a state-based exchange for health

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insurance, or contract with any private entity to do so, including, but not limited to, the Rhode

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Island health benefits exchange, known under the name "HealthSourceRI", and the unified health

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infrastructure project.

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     (b) On or before December 31, 2015, the governor shall, and is hereby authorized and

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directed, to take such administrative actions as are necessary to transfer all management and

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operation of the Rhode Island health benefits exchange to the U. S. Department of Health and

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Human Services and the U. S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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     (c) The governor is further authorized and directed to coordinate with the appropriate

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federal agencies, as required, to ensure:

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     (1) That health insurance coverage obtained through the Rhode Island health benefits

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exchange is transferred to the management and control of the U. S. Department of Health and

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Human Services and the U. S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and

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     (2) That individuals, families or businesses enrolled for health insurance through the

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Rhode Island benefits exchange shall retain such coverage without interruption on essentially the

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same terms as agreed upon in their original enrollment with an insurer through the exchange.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH

BENEFITS EXCHANGE ACT

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     This act would provide that no agency, department, or political subdivision of the state

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would collect or expend money from any source to further create or enable the Rhode Island

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health benefits exchange after December 31, 2015. The governor would be directed to transfer the

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management and operation of the exchange to the U.S. Department of Health and Human

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Services and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on or before December 31,

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2015.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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