§ 27-50-10.1. Basic benefit health plan. [Expires December 31, 2010.] (a) Small employer carriers are hereby authorized to actively market and sell basic benefit health plans developed pursuant to this section on and after July 1, 2007. Basic benefit health plans authorized under this section shall be exempt from any law requiring the coverage of a health care service or benefit or requiring the reimbursement, utilization, or inclusion of a specific category of licensed health care practitioner; provided, however, coverage for the medical treatment of mental illness and substance abuse shall be provided in accordance with chapter 38.2 of this title;

(b) Basic benefits health plans shall provide affordable health care coverage through flexible products that provide access to basic health services. Basic benefits health plans shall provide limited, flexible coverage for the following services:

(i) Inpatient hospitalization;

(ii) Outpatient surgery and diagnostics;

(iii) Outpatient physician coverage, including preventative office visits;

(iv) Accidental injury and emergency coverage;

(v) Prescription drug coverage.

(c) Small employer carriers may utilize cost containment mechanisms to control the cost of such services including, but not limited to, the following;

(i) Primary care gatekeepers;

(ii) Preadmission certification;

(iii) Mandatory second opinion prior to elective surgery;

(iv) Preauthorization for specified services;

(v) Concurrent utilization review and management;

(vi) Discharge planning for hospital care;

(vii) Deductibles and copayments;

(viii) Less costly alternatives to inpatient care;

(ix) Annual limits or maximums for each category of service; and

(x) Restricted networks with limited coverage for out-of-network services.

(d) The annual deductible shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) per individual and four thousand dollars ($4,000) per family.

(e) Basic benefit health plans shall be available only to uninsured small employers, provided, however, that once a small employer enrolls in a basic benefit health plan such small employer shall be guaranteed renewability of such basic benefit health plan coverage.

(f) The average annualized individual premium rate for a basic benefit health plan shall be less than seven and one-half percent (7.5%) 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 office of the health insurance commissioner ("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 1st of each year, to be applied to the subsequent calendar year premium rates.

(g) The health insurance commissioner shall issue a report to the general assembly as to the status and market impact of the basic benefit health plan program and shall make recommendation to the general assembly regarding the expansion, continuation or termination of the program on or before March 1, 2010.

(h) The authority provided to small employer carriers to sell basic benefit health plans pursuant to this section shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

History of Section. (P.L. 2007, ch. 221, § 2.)