A08514 Summary:

BILL NOA08514
 
SAME ASSAME AS S05849
 
SPONSORMorelle (MS)
 
COSPNSRGottfried, Brennan, Silver, Farrell, Canestrari, Peoples-Stokes, Rivera P, Kavanagh, Bronson, Clark, Brindisi, Rodriguez, Rosenthal
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add Art 10-E SS3980 - 3993, Pub Auth L; amd SS17 & 19, Pub Off L
 
Establishes the New York Health Benefit Exchange which will facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans in the individual market in NY and will incorporate a small business health options program to assist qualified employers in facilitating the enrollment of their employees in qualified health plans offered in the group market.
Go to top    

A08514 Actions:

BILL NOA08514
 
06/23/2011referred to ways and means
06/23/2011reported referred to rules
06/23/2011reported
06/23/2011rules report cal.606
06/23/2011ordered to third reading rules cal.606
06/23/2011message of necessity - 3 day message
06/23/2011passed assembly
06/23/2011delivered to senate
06/23/2011REFERRED TO RULES
01/04/2012DIED IN SENATE
01/04/2012RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
01/04/2012ordered to third reading cal.297
Go to top

A08514 Floor Votes:

DATE:06/23/2011Assembly Vote  YEA/NAY: 95/43
Yes
Abbate
Yes
Clark
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Nolan
Yes
Scarborough
Yes
Abinanti
Yes
Colton
No
Graf
Yes
Linares
No
Oaks
Yes
Schimel
No
Amedore
Yes
Conte
Yes
Gunther
No
Lopez PD
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Schimminger
ER
Arroyo
Yes
Cook
No
Hanna
ER
Lopez VJ
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Schroeder
Yes
Aubry
No
Corwin
ER
Hawley
No
Losquadro
No
Palmesano
Yes
Simotas
No
Barclay
ER
Crespo
No
Hayes
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Paulin
No
Smardz
Yes
Barron
Yes
Crouch
Yes
Heastie
Yes
Magee
Yes
Peoples Stokes
Yes
Spano
Yes
Benedetto
No
Curran
Yes
Hevesi
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Perry
Yes
Stevenson
Yes
Bing
Yes
Cusick
Yes
Hikind
Yes
Maisel
Yes
Pretlow
Yes
Sweeney
No
Blankenbush
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Hooper
No
Malliotakis
Yes
Ra
No
Tedisco
ER
Boyland
Yes
DenDekker
Yes
Hoyt
Yes
Markey
No
Rabbitt
No
Tenney
No
Boyle
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Jacobs
No
McDonough
No
Raia
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Braunstein
Yes
Duprey
Yes
Jaffee
Yes
McEneny
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Titone
Yes
Brennan
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jeffries
No
McKevitt
No
Reilich
Yes
Titus
Yes
Bronson
Yes
Farrell
No
Johns
No
McLaughlin
Yes
Reilly
No
Tobacco
Yes
Brook Krasny
No
Finch
No
Jordan
Yes
Meng
Yes
Rivera J
Yes
Weinstein
No
Burling
No
Fitzpatrick
No
Katz
No
Miller D
Yes
Rivera N
Yes
Weisenberg
No
Butler
No
Friend
Yes
Kavanagh
No
Miller JM
Yes
Rivera PM
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Cahill
Yes
Gabryszak
Yes
Kellner
Yes
Miller MG
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Wright
No
Calhoun
Yes
Galef
ER
Kirwan
Yes
Millman
ER
Robinson
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Camara
Yes
Gantt
No
Kolb
No
Molinaro
Yes
Rodriguez
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Canestrari
ER
Gibson
Yes
Lancman
No
Montesano
Yes
Rosenthal
No
Castelli
No
Giglio
Yes
Latimer
Yes
Morelle
Yes
Russell
Yes
Castro
Yes
Glick
Yes
Lavine
Yes
Moya
No
Saladino
No
Ceretto
Yes
Goodell
Yes
Lentol
No
Murray
Yes
Sayward

‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
Go to top

A08514 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A8514
 
SPONSOR: Morelle (MS)
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law and the public officers law, in relation to the establishment of the New York Health Benefit Exchange   PURPOSE OF BILL: This bill would establish the New York Health Benefit Exchange ("Exchange"), a public benefit corporation that will serve as a market- place for the purchase and sale of qualified health plans in the State of New York, in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. 111-148, and the Health Care and Education Reconcil- iation Act, Pub. L. 111- 152, collectively referred to as the "Afforda- ble Care Act" ("ACA").   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 of the bill would provide that the bill, upon enactment, would be known as the "New York Health Benefit Exchange Act." Section 2 of the bill would add new Public Authorities Law ("PAL") Arti- cle 10-E to establish the Exchange as a public benefit corporation. New PAL § 3980 would set forth a statement of policy and purposes. New PAL § 3981 would define certain key terms. New PAL § 3982 would establish the Exchange as a public benefit corpo- ration to be managed by a Board of Directors ("Board"). The Board would consist of nine directors, including two ex officio members: the Super- intendent of Insurance (effective October 3, 2011, the Superintendent of Financial Services) and the Commissioner of Health. Seven additional directors, who would be required to meet the qualifications specified in the bill, would be appointed by the Governor, two on the recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate and two on the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly. The chair would be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and all directors would be subject to the ethics and conflict of interest provisions set forth in Public Officers Law ("POL") §§ 73 and 74. New PAL § 3983 would set forth the general corporate powers of the Exchange, including the power to sue and be sued, enter into contracts, make by-laws, and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out its corporate purposes. New PAL § 3984 would set forth the functions of the Exchange, including: o making qualified health plans, including certain qualified dental plans, available to qualified individuals and qualified employers begin- ning on or before January 1, 2014   new PAL § 3984(1); o assigning ratings to qualified health plans offered through the Exchange in accordance with federal criteria   new PAL § 3984(2); o utilizing a standardized format for presenting health benefit options in the Exchange   new PAL § 3984(3); o establishing enrollment periods consistent with the Insurance Law, unless the Insurance Law conflicts with the ACA and guidance promulgated thereunder   new PAL § 3984(4); o implementing procedures for the certification, recertification and decertification of health plans as qualified health plans, consistent with guidelines issued pursuant to ACA § 1311(c), as further detailed in new PAL § 3985   new PAL § 3984(5); o requiring that qualified health plans offer the "essential benefits" that will be defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("Secretary") pursuant to ACA § 1302(b) and any additional benefits required under the Insurance Law, provided that the State assumes the cost of such additional benefits   new PAL § 3984(6); o ensuring that insurers offering health plans through the exchange do not charge an individual a fee or penalty for termination of coverage   new PAL § 3984(7); o providing for the operation of a toll-free telephone hotline to respond to requests for assistance   new PAL § 3984(8); o maintaining an Internet website through which enrollees and prospec- tive enrollees of qualified health plans may obtain standardized compar- ative information on such plans   new PAL § 3984(9); o making available by electronic means a calculator to allow individuals to determine the actual cost of coverage after application of any avail- able premium tax credits under Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") § 36B and cost-sharing reductions under ACA § 1402   new PAL § 3984(10); o establishing a program under which the Exchange awards grants to enti- ties to serve as navigators under ACA § 1311(i) and associated regu- lations   new PAL § 3984(11); o informing individuals of eligibility requirements for the State's public health insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or any applicable state or local public health insurance program) and, if eligible, enrolling them in such programs   new PAL § 3984(12); o granting certifications attesting that, for purposes of the individual responsibility penalty under IRC § 5000A, an individual is exempt from the individual responsibility requirement or from the penalty pursuant to ACA § 1411   new PAL § 3984(13); o transmitting to the Secretary of the Treasury information about certification granted to individuals and employees about individuals who have notified the Exchange that they have changed employers, and about individuals who ceased coverage under a qualified health plan   new PAL § 3984(14); o providing each employer with the name of each employee of the employer who ceased coverage under a qualified health plan, and who was deter- mined eligible for a premium tax credit because the employer did not offer minimum essential coverage, or because the coverage was either unaffordable or did not provide the required minimum actuarial value pursuant to federal law   new PAL § 3984(15); o operating a Small Business Health Options Program ("SHOP") pursuant to ACA § 1311, through which qualified employers will be able to access coverage for their employees   new PAL § 3984(16); o entering into agreements with federal and state agencies and other state exchanges to carry out its responsibilities, and with local departments of social services to coordinate enrollments in other social services programs, provided that such agreements include adequate protections with respect to the confidentiality of the information to be shared and comply with all state and federal laws and regulations   new PAL § 3984(17); o performing duties required by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury related to determining eligibility for premium tax credits, reduced cost-sharing, or individual responsibility requirement exemptions   new PAL § 3984(18); o meeting certain financial integrity requirements under ACA § 1313   new PAL § 3984(19); o consulting with the Regional Advisory Committees created under the bill and with relevant stakeholders, including health care consumers who are enrollees in health plans; individuals and entities with experience in facilitating enrollment in health plans; representatives of small businesses and self-employed individuals; the state Medicaid program and local departments of social services; advocates for enrolling hard to reach populations; health care providers; and insurers   new PAL § 3984(20); o submitting information provided by Exchange applicants for verifica- tion in accordance with the requirements of ACA § 1411(c)   new PAL § 3984(21); o establishing rules and regulations as set forth in new PAL § 3983(8), as deemed necessary by the Board, that shall not conflict with or prevent the application of regulations promulgated by the Secretary   new PAL § 3984(22); and o determining eligibility, providing notices, and providing opportu- nities for appeal and redetermination in accordance with the require- ments of ACA §§ 1411 and 1413   new PAL § 3984(23). New PAL § 3985 would describe the Exchange's obligations with regard to the certification of health plans and the oversight of qualified health plans. New PAL § 3986 would establish five Regional Advisory Committees, which will be representative of the interests of health care consumers, small business, the medical community and insurers. The Regional Advisory Committees will provide advice to the Exchange, which will reflect find- ings about regional variations regarding the availability of health insurance coverage and other issues deemed necessary by such committees and the Board. New PAL § 3987 would provide that the Exchange will be financially self- sufficient by January 1,2015, and that the Exchange will study and make recommendations for achieving such self-sufficiency as set forth in new PAL § 3988(5). In addition, as required by federal law, PAL § 3987 would require the Exchange to publish on its website information about its administrative costs. This section would also prohibit transfers of funding from the Exchange to the General Fund or, absent an appropri- ation, from the General Fund to the Exchange. New PAL § 3988 would provide that the Exchange will study or cause to be studied certain matters related to its future operations, and will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly. In particular, the Exchange would, on or before April 1, 2012: o compare the "essential benefits" identified by the Secretary to the benefits mandated by State law and recommend whether any or all of such State-mandated benefits should be offered through the Exchange at State expense   new PAL § 3988(1); o consider issues such as whether insurers participating in the Exchange must offer all health plans sold in the Exchange to individuals outside of the Exchange; how to develop and implement the transitional reinsur- ance program required under the ACA; whether to merge the individual and small group health insurance markets for rating purposes; and whether to increase the size of small employers from not more than 50 employees to not more than an average of 100 employees prior to January 1, 2016   new PAL § 3988(2); o make recommendations regarding the "basic health plan program"   new PAL § 3988(3); o make recommendations as to the advantages and disadvantages of the Exchange serving as an active purchaser, a selective contractor or a clearinghouse of insurance   new PAL § 3988(4); o make recommendations regarding the funding and self-sufficiency of the Exchange   new PAL § 3988(5); make recommendations regarding benchmark benefits   new PAL § 3988(6); o make recommendations upon the impact of the Exchange on the Healthy NY and Family Health Plus employer partnership programs   new PAL § 3988(7); o make recommendations on procedures under which licensed health insur- ance producers, chambers of commerce and business associations may enroll in the Exchange and assist individuals in applying for premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions   new PAL . 3988(8); o make recommendations on the criteria for eligibility to serve as a navigator   new PAL § 3988(9); o make recommendations on the role of the Exchange in decreasing dispar- ities in health care service, including disparities on the basis of race and ethnicity   new PAL § 3988(10); o make recommendations upon whether and to what extent health savings accounts should be offered through the Exchange   new PAL § 3988(11); and o make recommendations on how to integrate public health insurance coverage with the Exchange   new PAL § 3988(12). In addition, on or before December 1, 2016, recommend whether to allow large employers to participate in the Exchange beginning January 1, 2017   new PAL § 3988(13). New PAL § 3989 would provide that the Exchange would be exempt from state taxation. New PAL § 3990 would authorize the Board to appoint employees to serve as senior managerial staff, who would be exempt from the civil service system; all other employees would be subject to civil service. New PAL § 3991 would make Public Officers Law ("POL") §§ 17 and 19, regarding representation by the Attorney General and indemnification for damages, applicable to directors, officers and employees of the Exchange. New PAL § 3392 would set forth language making the operation of new PAL Article 10-E contingent on sufficient federal financial support to establish and implement the Exchange. New PAL § 3393 would provide that nothing in new PAL Article 10-E, and no action taken by the Exchange, shall-be construed to preempt or super- sede the authority of the Commissioner or the Superintendent or to exempt insurers, insurance producers or qualified health plans from the Insurance Law, the Public Health Law or the regulations promulgated thereunder. Section 3 of the bill would add new POL § 17(1)(x) to include employees of the Exchange in the list of state employees entitled to represen- tation by the Attorney General in civil litigation. Section 4 of the bill would add new POL § 19(1)(j) to include employees of the Exchange in the list of state employees entitled to indemnifica- tion of damages awarded in a judgment or settlement. Section 5 of the bill would provide for severability of the bill in the event any part of it is deemed unenforceable. Section 6 of the bill would provide that in the event the United States Supreme Court finds the ACA unconstitutional or the United States Congress repeals the ACA, the Legislature will convene within 180 days of such decision or repeals to consider legislative options. Section 7 of the bill would provide that the bill would take effect immediately, and clarifies that the Department of Health or the Insur- ance Department would be authorized to continue administering federal grants already received.   EXISTING LAW: The Affordable Care Act requires each state to either establish a state American Health Benefit Exchange or participate in a regional exchange, through which individuals and small groups will be able to purchase health insurance in the form of a qualified health benefit plan. If the state does neither, its residents will be required to participate in a federal Health Benefit Exchange.   STATEMENT IN SUPPORT: New York State has long been a leader in promoting access to comprehen- sive health insurance coverage. The commitment to the health of the people of the State, and its ongoing efforts to implement reforms that promote the availability of affordable, quality care are consistent with the goals of the Affordable Care Act: to reduce the number of uninsured persons, provide a transparent and centralized marketplace for insurance coverage, educate consumers and small businesses about their options, and assist individuals and employees with access to programs, premium assistance tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. To achieve those objectives, the ACA includes provisions that, among other things, expand eligibility for public insurance programs, transform the health insur- ance system through the use of exchanges and other market reforms, encourage quality and efficiency in the delivery of health care services, and develop programs that emphasize preventive care. The ACA requires that each state demonstrate to the federal government the ability to operate an American Health Benefit Exchange or the feder- al government will operate an exchange for the State. For a number of reasons, it is critical that New York is able to design its own exchange. First, the State is best positioned to understand the compli- cated issues and far reaching policy ramifications of establishing and operating a new exchange within the existing commercial insurance market. Such consideration must encompass matters such as the ability of insurers to compete fairly and the ability of consumers to access affordable, quality care, and would be needlessly complicated if the market within the exchange is regulated by the federal government while the market outside the exchange is regulated by the State. Second, the federal government simply will not be equipped to understand and give appropriate consideration to the unique regional and economic needs of New York's individual and small business health insurance markets and the diversity of New York's population, with its ethnic, cultural and language differences. Third, operation of the Exchange by the State is the most certain way to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy the important protections currently embodied in state law, such as the assurance that older adults are not charged higher premiums on account of their age. Fourth, the ACA requires the Exchange to evaluate an individual's eligi- bility for Medicaid and other public health coverage and enroll them if eligible. This means that it will be critical to coordinate the oper- ations of the Exchange with the State's administration of these programs, which will achieve efficiencies and economies of scale and help reduce Medicaid spending by the State and local governments. From the county perspective, such spending represents a large percentage of local budgets and accounts for a significant portion of property taxes; accordingly, any efficiencies resulting from the State's operation of the Exchange would inure to the benefit of local taxpayers. For these reasons, it is essential that the State enact legislation establishing an Exchange, and that such legislation conform to the requirements of the ACA. Moreover, if such legislation is not enacted in timely fashion, the State risks losing the opportunity to apply for significant federal funding to establish the Exchange. The purpose of this legislation is to establish a single Exchange in New York - a centralized, customer-service oriented marketplace where indi- viduals and small groups will be able to purchase qualified health plans, receive eligibility and subsidy determinations, and be enrolled in a range of coverage options, including public health coverage programs - operated by a governmental entity with the flexibility to meet the ambitious deadlines set by the ACA. A state that chooses to operate its own Exchange must demonstrate to the United States Depart- ment of Health and Human Services ("HHS") by January 1, 2013 that such Exchange will be operational by January 1, 2014. Each Exchange must begin accepting applications by July 1, 2013, and must be operational by January 1, 2014. The Exchange will be established as a public benefit corporation managed by a Board of Directors. Seven of the nine members of the Board will have expertise in relevant areas, including individual health care coverage, small employer health care coverage, health benefits adminis- tration, health care finance, public or private health care delivery systems, and purchasing health plan coverage. The remaining members - the Superintendent and the Commissioner - will serve as ex officio, voting members of the Board. The Board will consult with five Regional Advisory Committees, comprised of 25 representatives of stakeholders from sectors that will be impacted by the operation of the Exchange, including health plan consumer advo- cates, small business consumer representatives, health care providers, agents, brokers, insurers and labor organizations. The Committees will provide advice and recommendations to the Board reflecting findings about regional variations regarding the availability of health insurance coverage and other issues deemed necessary by the Committees and the Board. The Exchange will make available qualified health plans, including certain qualified dental plans, to qualified individuals and employers beginning on or before January 1, 2014 (to take effect no earlier than such date). Under this legislation, the Exchange will implement proce- dures for the certification, recertification and decertification of health plans as qualified health plans. The Exchange will also assign ratings to qualified health plans in accordance with the ACA. The bill also provides certain protections meant to assist individuals in using the Exchange. For example, the bill provides that the Exchange will operate a toll-free telephone line to assist consumers and an Internet website containing standardized comparative information on qualified health plans. The website will feature a calculator allowing individuals to determine the actual cost of coverage. The bill also requires the Exchange to establish a program to award grants to entities to serve as "navigators" to help educate consumers and facilitate enrollment. In addition, the Exchange will include a Small Business Health Options Program ("SHOP"), which will assist small employers in facilitating the enrollment of their employees in qualified health plans offered in the group market. Until January 1,2016, a "small employer" will be defined as an employer with an average of less than 50 employees. On January 1, 2016, the term will apply to employers with an average of up to 100 employers. Under this bill, and as permitted under federal law, the Exchange will consider whether to expand the definition before 2016. The ACA imposes a number of requirements regarding financial integrity, which are reflected in the bill. In addition, because the bill creates a new article within the Public Authorities Law, various provisions of law that do not expressly appear in the bill will apply to the operations of the Exchange, such as quorum requirements for Board meetings. To promote transparency, the Exchange will be subject to the Freedom of Information Law and Board meetings will be subject to the Open Meetings Law. The participation of the ex officio directors on the Board is essential to the success of the Exchange. The nature of the Exchange and the need to integrate its functions with the regulation of the insurance markets necessitates the close involvement of the Superintendent. The engagement of the Commissioner is important, largely because the Exchange must work seamlessly with Medicaid, Child Health Plus ("CHP") and other public coverage programs, supported by a new, ACA compliant integrated eligi- bility and enrollment system. As required by the ACA, the Exchange will screen individuals to see if they are eligible for Medicaid or other public coverage programs and, if they are eligible, enroll them in such programs. As many as one million additional people are expected to enroll in Medi- caid or CHP as a result of the individual mandate, and one million people are expected to enroll in the Exchange, of whom approximately 75 percent will qualify for subsidies. It is expected that large numbers of people will transition back and forth between private health insurance and public health insurance programs as their job statuses and incomes change, making it particularly important to properly integrate the Exchange with public health insurance programs, including Medicaid, CHP and, if established, the "Basic Health Program." This legislation also recognizes that there are additional decisions that need to be made and implemented by certain dates, many of which will require the introduction and enactment of additional legislation, and establishes a framework for such decisions to be made. Specifically, the bill requires the Exchange to conduct a study, or arrange for a study to be conducted, on several of these discussion points, and mandates that the Board submit a report of its findings and recommenda- tions on each such issue to the Governor and the leaders of the Legisla- ture by specified dates. As to certain matters, no study is necessary and the Exchange is charged only with making recommendations. The areas for study and review include: (1) the "essential benefits" that will be identified by the Secretary in comparison to the benefits mandated by current State law; (2) changes in the insurance market, such as whether insurers participating in the Exchange must offer all health plans sold in the Exchange to individuals outside of the Exchange, how to implement the transitional reinsurance program, whether to merge the individual and small group health insurance markets for rating purposes, and whether to increase the size of small employers from not more than an average of 50 employees to not more than an average of 100 employees prior to 2016; (3) the "basic health plan program;" (4) whether the Exchange should serve as an active purchaser, selective contractor or a clearinghouse of insurance; (5) funding of the Exchange; (6) the bench- mark benefits; and (7) whether to allow large employers to participate in the Exchange beginning January 1, 2017.   BUDGET IMPLICATIONS: Enactment of this bill will not have any fiscal implications during the upcoming fiscal years. While the ACA requires each Exchange to be "self- sustaining" by January 1, 2015, federal funds will support the planning, implementation and operation of the Exchange through December 2014. New York has already been selected to receive funding under an Early Innova- tor Grant ($27 million) and an Exchange Planning Grant ($1 million), which will help the state design and implement the necessary information technology ("IT") infrastructure needed to operate its Exchange. In June, DOH expects to apply for a Level 1 Establishment Grant, which makes a year's worth of funding available to states that have made some progress under their Exchange Planning Grant. Level 2 Establishment Grants will provide funding through December 31, 2014 to applicants that are further along in the establishment of an Exchange, and are dependent on having a governance structure and the legal authority to operate the Exchange. With the enactment of this legislation, assuming other appli- cable criteria are met, New York will qualify to apply for such grant.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This bill would take effect immediately.
Go to top