§ 27-50-10. Wellness health benefit plan.
(a) No provision contained in this chapter prohibits the sale of health benefit plans
that differ from the wellness health benefit plans provided for in this section.
(b) The wellness health benefit plan shall be determined by regulations promulgated by
the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC). The OHIC shall develop the criteria
for the wellness health benefit plan, including, but not limited to, benefit levels,
cost-sharing levels, exclusions, and limitations, in accordance with the following:
(1)(i) The OHIC shall form an advisory committee to include representatives of employers,
health insurance brokers, local chambers of commerce, and consumers who pay directly
for individual health insurance coverage.
(ii) The advisory committee shall make recommendations to the OHIC concerning the following:
(A) The wellness health benefit plan requirements document. This document shall be disseminated
to all Rhode Island small group and individual market health plans for responses,
and shall include, at a minimum, the benefit limitations and maximum cost-sharing
levels for the wellness health benefit plan. If the wellness health benefit product
requirements document is not created by November 1, 2006, it will be determined by
regulations promulgated by the OHIC.
(B) The wellness health benefit plan design. The health plans shall bring proposed wellness
health plan designs to the advisory committee for review on or before January 1, 2007.
The advisory committee shall review these proposed designs and provide recommendations
to the health plans and the commissioner regarding the final wellness plan design
to be approved by the commissioner in accordance with § 27-50-5(h)(4), and as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner on or before March
1, 2007.
(2) Set a target for the average annualized individual premium rate for the wellness health
benefit plan to be less than ten percent (10%) of the average annual statewide wage,
as reported by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, in their report
entitled "Quarterly Census of Rhode Island Employment and Wages.� In the event that
this report is no longer available, or the OHIC determines that it is no longer appropriate
for the determination of maximum annualized premium, an alternative method shall be
adopted in regulation by the OHIC. The maximum annualized individual premium rate
shall be determined no later than August 1 of each year, to be applied to the subsequent
calendar year premium rates.
(3) Ensure that the wellness health benefit plan creates appropriate incentives for employers,
providers, health plans, and consumers to, among other things:
(i) Focus on primary care, prevention, and wellness;
(ii) Actively manage the chronically ill population;
(iii) Use the least cost, most appropriate setting; and
(iv) Use evidence-based, quality care.
(4) To the extent possible, the health plans may be permitted to utilize existing products
to meet the objectives of this section.
(5) The plan shall be made available in accordance with this chapter as required by regulation
on or before May 1, 2007.