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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Heaton DATE TYPED: 02/3/01 HB 299
SHORT TITLE: Any Willing Provider Act SB
ANALYST: Wilson


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
NFI



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to HB 60

SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Health Policy Commission(HPC)

Governor's Office (GO)

Public Regulation Commission (PRC)

Attorney General's Office (AG)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)





SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 299 creates the Any Willing Provider Act which restricts health care insurers and provider service networks from denying any health care provider the right to participate as a provider and prevents any person who is a party to the policy from selecting the health care provider of his choice, or modify the coverage in such a way that would cause a party to choose one health care provider over another.

 

Significant Issues

 

The Division of Insurance (DOI) wrote that the cost of insurance plans might increase due to higher benefits outside of networks, DOI anticipates premiums will increase substantially.



The DOI further noted the provisions of HB 299 will prevent insurers from being able to negotiate incentives or have adequate control over providers.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



All health insurers would be required to amend and file their contracts with the Insurance Division at the Public Regulation Commission. The DOI staff will handle changes.

 



RELATIONSHIP

Relates to HB 60, Medicaid Provider Act, which seeks to ensure fair and non-discriminatory practices toward health care providers.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES





effective care. These programs could lose their effectiveness if managed care cannot selectively contract with providers who satisfy the plan's quality requirements and whose performance can be regularly monitored by the plan.



DW/prr