HB 548 - AS INTRODUCED

2015 SESSION

15-0803

01/03

HOUSE BILL 548

AN ACT establishing the federally-facilitated health exchange as the health exchange for New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. Butler, Carr 7; Rep. Rosenwald, Hills 30; Rep. Sherman, Rock 24; Sen. Pierce, Dist 5; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the federally-facilitated health exchange as the health exchange for New Hampshire.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15-0803

01/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT establishing the federally-facilitated health exchange as the health exchange for New Hampshire.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Health Care Reform; Federally-Facilitated Health Exchange Established. The section heading and paragraphs I-III of RSA 420-N:7 are repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

420-N:7 Establishment of the Federally-Facilitated Health Exchange as the State of New Hampshire’s Health Benefit Exchange; Guidelines for State Agency Responsibility for Exchange Functions.

I. The federally-facilitated health benefit marketplace, including the federally-operated SHOP exchange, is established as the health benefit exchange for New Hampshire, pursuant to section 1311(b)(1) of the Act. The technical exchange functions listed in section 1311(d)(4) of the Act, including operation of the Internet website, telephone hotline, standardized format for presenting plan information, cost calculator, exemption certification process, and employer communication process, shall be those operated by the federal government under section 1321 of the Act. Health insurance issuers participating on the exchange shall be subject to such assessments or user fees as the federal government may impose in order to ensure that operation of these technical components of the exchange are self-sustaining under section 1311(d)(5) of the Act.

II. State agencies or departments may interact with the federal government with respect to operation of the federally-facilitated exchange for New Hampshire, and may, subject to availability of funding, perform any exchange functions necessary to ensure continued eligibility of New Hampshire citizens for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions under title I, subtitle E, part I of the Act.

III. State agencies or departments may operate functions of the exchange consistent with this subdivision to enable the continuation of traditional areas of state regulation and authority. Specifically, state agencies are authorized to perform plan management and consumer assistance functions under section 1311(d)(4)(A), (D), (F), and (K) of the Act for the exchange, including plan certification, plan quality rating and related functions with respect to qualified health plans, and operating programs, including the navigator program outlined in section 1311(i) of the Act, to inform enrollees of their options and to enroll them in coverage.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.