The Ohio health reinsurance program shall have the general powers and authority granted under the laws of the state to insurance companies licensed to transact sickness and accident insurance, except the power to issue insurance. The board of directors of the program also shall have the specific authority to do all of the following:

(A) Enter into contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of sections 3924.07 to 3924.14 of the Revised Code, including the authority to enter into contracts with similar programs of other states for the joint performance of common functions, or with persons or other organizations for the performance of administrative functions;

(B) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal actions necessary or proper for recovery of any assessments for, on behalf of, or against any program or board member;

(C) Take such legal action as is necessary to avoid the payment of improper claims against the program;

(D) Make recommendations to the superintendent of insurance regarding the design of the OHC plans which, when offered by a carrier, are eligible for reinsurance and issue reinsurance policies in accordance with the requirements of sections 3924.07 to 3924.14 of the Revised Code;

(E) Establish rules, conditions, and procedures pertaining to the reinsurance of members' risks by the program;

(F) Establish appropriate rates, rate schedules, rate adjustments, rate classifications, and any other actuarial functions appropriate to the operation of the program;

(G) Assess members in accordance with division (G) of section 3924.11 and the provisions of section 3924.13 of the Revised Code, and make such advance interim assessments as may be reasonable and necessary for organizational and interim operating expenses. Any interim assessments shall be credited as offsets against any regular assessments due following the close of the calendar year.

(H) Appoint members to appropriate legal, actuarial, and other committees if necessary to provide technical assistance with respect to the operation of the program, policy and other contract design, and any other function within the authority of the program;

(I) Borrow money to effect the purposes of the program. Any notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the program not in default shall be legal investments for carriers and may be carried as admitted assets.

(J) Reinsure risks, collect assessments, and otherwise carry out its duties under division (G) of section 3924.11 of the Revised Code;

(K) Study the operation of the Ohio health reinsurance program and the open enrollment reinsurance program and, based on its findings, make legislative recommendations to the general assembly for improvements in the effectiveness, operation, and integrity of the programs;

(L) Design a basic and standard plan for purposes of sections 1751.16, 3923.122, and 3923.581 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §610.53, eff. 9/29/2017.

Suspended by 130th General Assembly File No. 15, SB 9, §3, which provides that during the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and expiring January 1, 2022, the operation of this section is suspended. If the amendments made by 42 U.S.C. 300gg-1 and 300gg-6, regarding the requirements related to health insurance coverage become ineffective prior to the expiration of the suspension on January 1, 2022, then this section, in either its present form or as later amended, again becomes operational..

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.18, HB 300, §1, eff. 5/26/2010.

Effective Date: 03-22-1999 .

Related Legislative Provision: See 130th General Assembly File No. 15, SB 9, §3.

See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .

See 128th General AssemblyFile No.18, HB 300, §3 .