House of Representatives

SB 1330

unemployment insurance; amount of benefits

Sponsor: Cirillo

DPA S/E	Committee on Commerce
X	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

Indexes the amount of the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to a percentage of the Arizona average weekly wage.

SB 1330 has a proposed strike-everything amendment that establishes a consolidated regulatory structure for oversight of health care service organizations (HCSO) within the Department of Insurance (“DOI” or “Department”).

History

Arizona enacted its regulatory structure governing HCSO’s in 1973. Due to the fact that HCSO’s are sophisticated entities that contain components similar to an insurance company and a health care provider, Arizona has maintained a bifurcated regulatory structure between DOI and DHS. DOI’s regulatory responsibility includes oversight of the HCSO’s financial condition, aspects of market conduct, policy forms, advertising, disciplinary matters and licensing. Regulatory responsibility for DHS focuses on the health services content of HCSO’s and whether HCSO’s constitute an appropriate mechanism to achieve an effective health care plan.

Provisions

· Defines basic health care services as those health care services that an enrollee may require as determined by the Director.

· Defines network plan.

· Requires HCSO’s to file with the Director a statement describing the HCSO and its health care plans, facilities and personnel.

· Requires HCSO’s to file with the Director a statement describing the geographic areas that the HCSO will serve.

· Requires that the HCSO show that it is an appropriate mechanism to achieve an effective health care plan as determined by the Director prior to licensure.

· The Director of DHS may participate in examinations that review the delivery of health and medical services by the HCSO’s for the purpose of determining whether the HCSO’s are in compliance with the laws of this state.

· Requires every HCSO licensed in this state to file an annual report with the Director that covers the HCSO’s activities for the year. The report shall include financial statements, the number of persons enrolled during the year, the number of enrollees as of the end of the year, the number of enrollments terminated during the year and any other information relating to the performance of that HCSO.

· Authorizes the Director to examine the affairs of any HCSO as often as the Director deems necessary.

· Establishes that the Director may suspend or revoke an HCSO’s license for failure to provide or arrange for basic health care services.

· Appropriates $885,000 in fiscal year 2000-2001 and $705,000 in fiscal year 2001-2002 from the state general fund to the Department.

· Exempts the Department from the rule making process for eighteen months from the effective date of this act.

· Establishes an effective date of June 30, 2001.

The strike-everything amendment was adopted in the Commerce Committee.

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44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

Second Regular Session March 10, 2000

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