Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee
October 1, 2007

The Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee met on Monday, Oct. 1, 2007.

During this meeting, the Committee:

• Held a hearing on State Health Insurance Innovations. The speakers included a representative from Senator Wyden’s office discussing S 334 – the Healthy Americans Act. Kevin Beagan provided an update on Massachusetts’ implementation process on the individual mandate. Copies of the presentations will be posted on the Committee’s website on the NAIC website at www.naic.org.

• Adopted its 2008 proposed charges.

• Adopted the Regulatory Framework Task Force report. The Regulatory Framework Task Force is continuing to work on a new model – Uniform Health Carrier External Review Model Act. The Task Force reviewed and discussed comments received on the current draft. The Task Force intends to distribute a new draft within the next few weeks. It also plans to hold a conference call prior to the 2007 Winter National Meeting to discuss any comments received on the draft.

• Adopted the Senior Issues Task Force report. The Task Force received an update on from the Medigap Modernization Subgroup, including the status of pending federal legislation, which would authorize the implementation of changes to the NAIC Medigap regulation as approved by the NAIC plenary in March 2007. The Task Force also received an update from the Medicare Private Plans Subgroup on recent activities, including a recent public hearing on the regulation of these plans and working sessions. The Subgroup plans to continue development of a white paper with various policy issues and possible solutions. The Task Force also received an update from a representative of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) on a number of Medigap issues.

• Adopted the Accident and Health Working Group report, which included approving the Working Group’s paper “An Exploration of Potential Regulatory Measures Intended To Prevent Individuals At Later Durations of Non-Group Major Medical Products From Receiving Higher Rate Increases Than Those At Early Durations.” This paper is related to the individual closed block issue. The Working Group reviewed a referral from the Blanks (E) Working Group regarding Long-Term Care Experience Forms for the Life, Health, and Property/Casualty annual statements.

• Received an update on federal issues. NAIC staff highlighted a number of federal bills.

Action Items:

• Adopted its 2008 proposed charges.
• Adopted the Regulatory Framework Task Force and Senior Issues Task Force reports.
• Adopted the Accident and Health Working Group report, which included approving the Working Group’s paper “An Exploration of Potential Regulatory Measures Intended To Prevent Individuals At Later Durations of Non-Group Major Medical Products From Receiving Higher Rate Increases Than Those At Early Durations.”