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Article 4.5. Review Of Rate Increases of California Insurance Code >> Division 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.5.
For purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) "Large group health insurance policy" means a group health insurance policy other than a policy issued to a small employer, as defined in Section 10700, 10753, or 10755.
(b) "Small group health insurance policy" means a group health insurance policy issued to a small employer, as defined in Section 10700, 10753, or 10755.
(c) "PPACA" means Section 2794 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-94), as amended by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), and any subsequent rules, regulations, or guidance issued pursuant to that law.
(d) "Unreasonable rate increase" has the same meaning as that term is defined in PPACA.
(a) "Large group health insurance policy" means a group health insurance policy other than a policy issued to a small employer, as defined in Section 10700, 10753, or 10755.
(b) "Small group health insurance policy" means a group health insurance policy issued to a small employer, as defined in Section 10700, 10753, or 10755.
(c) "PPACA" means Section 2794 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-94), as amended by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), and any subsequent rules, regulations, or guidance issued pursuant to that law.
(d) "Unreasonable rate increase" has the same meaning as that term is defined in PPACA.
This article shall apply to health insurance policies
offered in the individual or group market in California. However,
this article shall not apply to a specialized health insurance
policy; a Medicare supplement policy subject to Article 6 (commencing
with Section 10192.05); a health insurance policy offered in the
Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3
of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code); a health
insurance policy offered in the Healthy Families Program (Part 6.2
(commencing with Section 12693)), the Access for Infants and Mothers
Program (Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695)), the California
Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (Part 6.5 (commencing with
Section 12700)), or the Federal Temporary High Risk Pool (Part 6.6
(commencing with Section 12739.5)); a health insurance conversion
policy offered pursuant to Section 12682.1; or a health insurance
policy offered to a federally eligible defined individual under
Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 10900).
(a) All health insurers shall file with the department all
required rate information for individual and small group health
insurance policies at least 60 days prior to implementing any rate
change.
(b) An insurer shall disclose to the department all of the following for each individual and small group rate filing:
(1) Company name and contact information.
(2) Number of policy forms covered by the filing.
(3) Policy form numbers covered by the filing.
(4) Product type, such as indemnity or preferred provider organization.
(5) Segment type.
(6) Type of insurer involved, such as for profit or not for profit.
(7) Whether the products are opened or closed.
(8) Enrollment in each policy and rating form.
(9) Insured months in each policy form.
(10) Annual rate.
(11) Total earned premiums in each policy form.
(12) Total incurred claims in each policy form.
(13) Average rate increase initially requested.
(14) Review category: initial filing for new product, filing for existing product, or resubmission.
(15) Average rate of increase.
(16) Effective date of rate increase.
(17) Number of policyholders or insureds affected by each policy form.
(18) The insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions in each rate filing for all benefits and by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology. An insurer may provide aggregated additional data that demonstrates or reasonably estimates year-to-year cost increases in specific benefit categories in the geographic regions listed in Sections 10753.14 and 10965.9. For purposes of this paragraph, "major geographic region" shall be defined by the department and shall include no more than nine regions.
(19) The amount of the projected trend attributable to the use of services, price inflation, or fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, such as hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(20) A comparison of claims cost and rate of changes over time.
(21) Any changes in insured cost sharing over the prior year associated with the submitted rate filing.
(22) Any changes in insured benefits over the prior year associated with the submitted rate filing.
(23) The certification described in subdivision (b) of Section 10181.6.
(24) Any changes in administrative costs.
(25) Any other information required for rate review under PPACA.
(c) An insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following aggregate data for all rate filings submitted under this section in the individual and small group health insurance markets:
(1) Number and percentage of rate filings reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of policyholders.
(E) Number of covered lives affected.
(2) The insurer's average rate increase by the following categories:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(3) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts since the insurer's last rate filing for the same category of health benefit plan. To the extent possible, the insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(d) The department may require all health insurers to submit all rate filings to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Submission of the required rate filings to SERFF shall be deemed to be filing with the department for purposes of compliance with this section.
(e) A health insurer shall submit any other information required under PPACA. A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(b) An insurer shall disclose to the department all of the following for each individual and small group rate filing:
(1) Company name and contact information.
(2) Number of policy forms covered by the filing.
(3) Policy form numbers covered by the filing.
(4) Product type, such as indemnity or preferred provider organization.
(5) Segment type.
(6) Type of insurer involved, such as for profit or not for profit.
(7) Whether the products are opened or closed.
(8) Enrollment in each policy and rating form.
(9) Insured months in each policy form.
(10) Annual rate.
(11) Total earned premiums in each policy form.
(12) Total incurred claims in each policy form.
(13) Average rate increase initially requested.
(14) Review category: initial filing for new product, filing for existing product, or resubmission.
(15) Average rate of increase.
(16) Effective date of rate increase.
(17) Number of policyholders or insureds affected by each policy form.
(18) The insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions in each rate filing for all benefits and by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology. An insurer may provide aggregated additional data that demonstrates or reasonably estimates year-to-year cost increases in specific benefit categories in the geographic regions listed in Sections 10753.14 and 10965.9. For purposes of this paragraph, "major geographic region" shall be defined by the department and shall include no more than nine regions.
(19) The amount of the projected trend attributable to the use of services, price inflation, or fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, such as hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(20) A comparison of claims cost and rate of changes over time.
(21) Any changes in insured cost sharing over the prior year associated with the submitted rate filing.
(22) Any changes in insured benefits over the prior year associated with the submitted rate filing.
(23) The certification described in subdivision (b) of Section 10181.6.
(24) Any changes in administrative costs.
(25) Any other information required for rate review under PPACA.
(c) An insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following aggregate data for all rate filings submitted under this section in the individual and small group health insurance markets:
(1) Number and percentage of rate filings reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of policyholders.
(E) Number of covered lives affected.
(2) The insurer's average rate increase by the following categories:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(3) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts since the insurer's last rate filing for the same category of health benefit plan. To the extent possible, the insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(d) The department may require all health insurers to submit all rate filings to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Submission of the required rate filings to SERFF shall be deemed to be filing with the department for purposes of compliance with this section.
(e) A health insurer shall submit any other information required under PPACA. A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(a) For large group health insurance policies, all health
insurers shall file with the department at least 60 days prior to
implementing any rate change all required rate information for
unreasonable rate increases. This filing shall be concurrent with the
written notice described in Section 10199.1.
(b) For large group rate filings, health insurers shall submit all information that is required by PPACA. A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(c) A health insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following aggregate data for all rate filings submitted under this section in the large group health insurance market:
(1) Number and percentage of rate filings reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of insureds.
(E) Number of covered lives affected.
(2) The insurer's average rate increase by the following categories:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(3) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts since the health insurer's last rate filing for the same category of health insurance policy. To the extent possible, the health insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(d) The department may require all health insurers to submit all rate filings to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Submission of the required rate filings to SERFF shall be deemed to be filing with the department for purposes of compliance with this section.
(b) For large group rate filings, health insurers shall submit all information that is required by PPACA. A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(c) A health insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following aggregate data for all rate filings submitted under this section in the large group health insurance market:
(1) Number and percentage of rate filings reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of insureds.
(E) Number of covered lives affected.
(2) The insurer's average rate increase by the following categories:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type.
(C) Product type.
(3) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts since the health insurer's last rate filing for the same category of health insurance policy. To the extent possible, the health insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(d) The department may require all health insurers to submit all rate filings to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Submission of the required rate filings to SERFF shall be deemed to be filing with the department for purposes of compliance with this section.
(a) For large group health insurance policies, each
health insurer shall file with the department the weighted average
rate increase for all large group benefit designs during the 12-month
period ending January 1 of the following calendar year. The average
shall be weighted by the number of insureds in each large group
benefit design in the insurer's large group market and adjusted to
the most commonly sold large group benefit design by enrollment
during the 12-month period. For the purposes of this section, the
large group benefit design includes, but is not limited to, benefits
such as basic health care services and prescription drugs. The large
group benefit design shall not include cost sharing, including, but
not limited to, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
(b) (1) A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(2) The department shall conduct an annual public meeting regarding large group rates within three months of posting the aggregate information described in this section in order to permit a public discussion of the reasons for the changes in the rates, benefits, and cost sharing in the large group market. The meeting shall be held in either the Los Angeles area or the San Francisco Bay area.
(c) A health insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following for the aggregate rate information for the large group market submitted under this section:
(1) For rates effective during the 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year, number and percentage of rate changes reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type, including whether the rate is community rated, in whole or in part.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of insureds.
(E) The number of products sold that have materially different benefits, cost sharing, or other elements of benefit design.
(2) For rates effective during the 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year, any factors affecting the base rate, and the actuarial basis for those factors, including all of the following:
(A) Geographic region.
(B) Age, including age rating factors.
(C) Occupation.
(D) Industry.
(E) Health status factors, including, but not limited to, experience and utilization.
(F) Employee, and employee and dependents, including a description of the family composition used.
(G) Insureds' share of premiums.
(H) Insureds' cost sharing.
(I) Covered benefits in addition to basic health care services, as defined in Section 1345 of the Health and Safety Code, and other benefits mandated under this article.
(J) Which market segment, if any, is fully experience rated and which market segment, if any, is in part experience rated and in part community rated.
(K) Any other factor that affects the rate that is not otherwise specified.
(3) (A) The insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions for all benefits and by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology for the applicable 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year. A health insurer that exclusively contracts with no more than two medical groups in the state to provide or arrange for professional medical services for the health insurer's insureds shall instead disclose the amount of its actual trend experience for the prior contract year by aggregate benefit category, using benefit categories, to the maximum extent possible, that are the same or similar to those used by other insurers.
(B) The amount of the projected trend separately attributable to the use of services, price inflation, and fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology. A health insurer that exclusively contracts with no more than two medical groups in the state to provide or arrange for professional medical services for the insureds shall instead disclose the amount of its actual trend experience for the prior contract year by aggregate benefit category, using benefit categories that are, to the maximum extent possible, the same or similar to those used by other insurers.
(C) A comparison of the aggregate per insured per month costs and rate of changes over the last five years for each of the following:
(i) Premiums.
(ii) Claims costs, if any.
(iii) Administrative expenses.
(iv) Taxes and fees.
(D) Any changes in insured cost sharing over the prior year associated with the submitted rate information, including both of the following:
(i) Actual copays, coinsurance, deductibles, annual out of pocket maximums, and any other cost sharing by the benefit categories determined by the department.
(ii) Any aggregate changes in insured cost sharing over the prior years as measured by the weighted average actuarial value, weighted by the number of insureds.
(E) Any changes in insured benefits over the prior year, including a description of benefits added or eliminated as well as any aggregate changes as measured as a percentage of the aggregate claims costs, listed by the categories determined by the department.
(F) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts made since the insurer's prior year's information pursuant to this section for the same category of health insurer. To the extent possible, the insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(G) The number of products covered by the information that incurred the excise tax paid by the health insurer.
(d) The information required pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the department on or before October 1, 2016, and on or before October 1 annually thereafter. Information submitted pursuant to this section is subject to Section 10181.7.
(b) (1) A health insurer shall also submit any other information required pursuant to any regulation adopted by the department to comply with this article.
(2) The department shall conduct an annual public meeting regarding large group rates within three months of posting the aggregate information described in this section in order to permit a public discussion of the reasons for the changes in the rates, benefits, and cost sharing in the large group market. The meeting shall be held in either the Los Angeles area or the San Francisco Bay area.
(c) A health insurer subject to subdivision (a) shall also disclose the following for the aggregate rate information for the large group market submitted under this section:
(1) For rates effective during the 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year, number and percentage of rate changes reviewed by the following:
(A) Plan year.
(B) Segment type, including whether the rate is community rated, in whole or in part.
(C) Product type.
(D) Number of insureds.
(E) The number of products sold that have materially different benefits, cost sharing, or other elements of benefit design.
(2) For rates effective during the 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year, any factors affecting the base rate, and the actuarial basis for those factors, including all of the following:
(A) Geographic region.
(B) Age, including age rating factors.
(C) Occupation.
(D) Industry.
(E) Health status factors, including, but not limited to, experience and utilization.
(F) Employee, and employee and dependents, including a description of the family composition used.
(G) Insureds' share of premiums.
(H) Insureds' cost sharing.
(I) Covered benefits in addition to basic health care services, as defined in Section 1345 of the Health and Safety Code, and other benefits mandated under this article.
(J) Which market segment, if any, is fully experience rated and which market segment, if any, is in part experience rated and in part community rated.
(K) Any other factor that affects the rate that is not otherwise specified.
(3) (A) The insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions for all benefits and by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology for the applicable 12-month period ending January 1 of the following year. A health insurer that exclusively contracts with no more than two medical groups in the state to provide or arrange for professional medical services for the health insurer's insureds shall instead disclose the amount of its actual trend experience for the prior contract year by aggregate benefit category, using benefit categories, to the maximum extent possible, that are the same or similar to those used by other insurers.
(B) The amount of the projected trend separately attributable to the use of services, price inflation, and fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, including hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology. A health insurer that exclusively contracts with no more than two medical groups in the state to provide or arrange for professional medical services for the insureds shall instead disclose the amount of its actual trend experience for the prior contract year by aggregate benefit category, using benefit categories that are, to the maximum extent possible, the same or similar to those used by other insurers.
(C) A comparison of the aggregate per insured per month costs and rate of changes over the last five years for each of the following:
(i) Premiums.
(ii) Claims costs, if any.
(iii) Administrative expenses.
(iv) Taxes and fees.
(D) Any changes in insured cost sharing over the prior year associated with the submitted rate information, including both of the following:
(i) Actual copays, coinsurance, deductibles, annual out of pocket maximums, and any other cost sharing by the benefit categories determined by the department.
(ii) Any aggregate changes in insured cost sharing over the prior years as measured by the weighted average actuarial value, weighted by the number of insureds.
(E) Any changes in insured benefits over the prior year, including a description of benefits added or eliminated as well as any aggregate changes as measured as a percentage of the aggregate claims costs, listed by the categories determined by the department.
(F) Any cost containment and quality improvement efforts made since the insurer's prior year's information pursuant to this section for the same category of health insurer. To the extent possible, the insurer shall describe any significant new health care cost containment and quality improvement efforts and provide an estimate of potential savings together with an estimated cost or savings for the projection period.
(G) The number of products covered by the information that incurred the excise tax paid by the health insurer.
(d) The information required pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the department on or before October 1, 2016, and on or before October 1 annually thereafter. Information submitted pursuant to this section is subject to Section 10181.7.
Notwithstanding any provision in a contract between a
health insurer and a provider, the department may request from a
health insurer any information required under this article or PPACA.
(a) A filing submitted under this article shall be
actuarially sound.
(b) (1) The health insurer shall contract with an independent actuary or actuaries consistent with this section.
(2) A filing submitted under this article shall include a certification by an independent actuary or actuarial firm that the rate increase is reasonable or unreasonable and, if unreasonable, that the justification for the increase is based on accurate and sound actuarial assumptions and methodologies. Unless PPACA requires a certification of actuarial soundness for each large group health insurance policy, a filing submitted under Section 10181.4 shall include a certification by an independent actuary, as described in this section, that the aggregate or average rate increase is based on accurate and sound actuarial assumptions and methodologies.
(3) The actuary or actuarial firm acting under paragraph (2) shall not be an affiliate or a subsidiary of, nor in any way owned or controlled by, a health insurer or a trade association of health insurers. A board member, director, officer, or employee of the actuary or actuarial firm shall not serve as a board member, director, or employee of a health insurer. A board member, director, or officer of a health insurer or a trade association of health insurers shall not serve as a board member, director, officer, or employee of the actuary or actuarial firm.
(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed to permit the commissioner to establish the rates charged insureds and policyholders for covered health care services.
(b) (1) The health insurer shall contract with an independent actuary or actuaries consistent with this section.
(2) A filing submitted under this article shall include a certification by an independent actuary or actuarial firm that the rate increase is reasonable or unreasonable and, if unreasonable, that the justification for the increase is based on accurate and sound actuarial assumptions and methodologies. Unless PPACA requires a certification of actuarial soundness for each large group health insurance policy, a filing submitted under Section 10181.4 shall include a certification by an independent actuary, as described in this section, that the aggregate or average rate increase is based on accurate and sound actuarial assumptions and methodologies.
(3) The actuary or actuarial firm acting under paragraph (2) shall not be an affiliate or a subsidiary of, nor in any way owned or controlled by, a health insurer or a trade association of health insurers. A board member, director, officer, or employee of the actuary or actuarial firm shall not serve as a board member, director, or employee of a health insurer. A board member, director, or officer of a health insurer or a trade association of health insurers shall not serve as a board member, director, officer, or employee of the actuary or actuarial firm.
(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed to permit the commissioner to establish the rates charged insureds and policyholders for covered health care services.
(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, all
information submitted under this article shall be made publicly
available by the department except as provided in subdivision (b).
(b) (1) Any contracted rates between a health insurer and a provider shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). The contracted rates between a health insurer and a provider shall not be disclosed by a health insurer to a large group purchaser that receives information pursuant to Section 10181.10.
(2) The contracted rates between a health insurer and a large group shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). Information provided to a large group purchaser pursuant to Section 10181.10 shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and shall be exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
(c) All information submitted to the department under this article shall be submitted electronically in order to facilitate review by the department and the public.
(d) In addition, the department and the health insurer shall, at a minimum, make the following information readily available to the public on their Internet Web sites, in plain language and in a manner and format specified by the department, except as provided in subdivision (b). The information shall be made public for 60 days prior to the implementation of the rate increase. The information shall include:
(1) Justifications for any unreasonable rate increases, including all information and supporting documentation as to why the rate increase is justified.
(2) An insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions in each rate filing for all benefits.
(3) An insurer's actual costs, by aggregate benefit category to include, hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(4) The amount of the projected trend attributable to the use of services, price inflation, or fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, such as hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(b) (1) Any contracted rates between a health insurer and a provider shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). The contracted rates between a health insurer and a provider shall not be disclosed by a health insurer to a large group purchaser that receives information pursuant to Section 10181.10.
(2) The contracted rates between a health insurer and a large group shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). Information provided to a large group purchaser pursuant to Section 10181.10 shall be deemed confidential information that shall not be made public by the department and shall be exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
(c) All information submitted to the department under this article shall be submitted electronically in order to facilitate review by the department and the public.
(d) In addition, the department and the health insurer shall, at a minimum, make the following information readily available to the public on their Internet Web sites, in plain language and in a manner and format specified by the department, except as provided in subdivision (b). The information shall be made public for 60 days prior to the implementation of the rate increase. The information shall include:
(1) Justifications for any unreasonable rate increases, including all information and supporting documentation as to why the rate increase is justified.
(2) An insurer's overall annual medical trend factor assumptions in each rate filing for all benefits.
(3) An insurer's actual costs, by aggregate benefit category to include, hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(4) The amount of the projected trend attributable to the use of services, price inflation, or fees and risk for annual policy trends by aggregate benefit category, such as hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, prescription drugs and other ancillary services, laboratory, and radiology.
(a) On or before July 1, 2012, the commissioner may issue
guidance to health insurers regarding compliance with this article.
This guidance shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure
Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(b) The department shall consult with the Department of Managed Health Care in issuing guidance under subdivision (a), in adopting necessary regulations, in posting information on its Internet Web site under this article, and in taking any other action for the purpose of implementing this article.
(b) The department shall consult with the Department of Managed Health Care in issuing guidance under subdivision (a), in adopting necessary regulations, in posting information on its Internet Web site under this article, and in taking any other action for the purpose of implementing this article.
(a) (1) A health insurer shall annually provide claims
data at no charge to a large group purchaser if the large group
purchaser requests the information and otherwise meets the
requirements of this section.
(2) The health insurer shall provide claims data that a qualified statistician has determined are deidentified so that the claims data do not identify or do not provide a reasonable basis from which to identify an individual. If the statistician is unable to determine that the data has been deidentified, then the data that cannot be deidentified shall not be provided by the health insurer to the large group purchaser. A health insurer may provide the claims data in an aggregated form as necessary to comply with subdivisions (e) and (f).
(b) (1) As an alternative to providing claims data required pursuant to subdivision (a), the insurer shall provide, at no charge to a large group purchaser, all of the following:
(A) Deidentified data sufficient for the large group purchaser to calculate the cost of obtaining similar services from other health insurers and plans and evaluate cost-effectiveness by service and disease category.
(B) Deidentified aggregated patient-level data on demographics, prescribing, encounters, inpatient services, outpatient services, and any other data that is comparable to what is required of the health insurer to comply with risk adjustment, reinsurance, or risk corridors pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any rules, regulations, or guidance issued thereunder.
(C) Deidentified aggregated patient-level data used to experience rate the large group, including diagnostic and procedure coding and costs assigned to each service that the insurer has available.
(2) The health insurer shall obtain a formal determination from a qualified statistician that the data provided pursuant to this subdivision have been deidentified so that the data do not identify or do not provide a reasonable basis from which to identify an individual. If the statistician is unable to determine that the data has been deidentified, the health insurer shall not provide the data that cannot be deidentified to the large group purchaser. The statistician shall document the formal determination in writing and shall, upon request, provide the protocol used for deidentification to the department.
(c) Data provided pursuant to this section shall only be provided to a large group purchaser that meets both of the following conditions:
(1) Is able to demonstrate its ability to comply with state and federal privacy laws.
(2) Is a large group purchaser that is either an employer with an enrollment of greater than 1,000 covered lives and at least 500 covered lives enrolled with the health insurer providing the information or a multiemployer trust with an enrollment of greater than 500 covered lives and at least 250 covered lives enrolled with the health insurer providing the information.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer and purchaser from negotiating the release of additional information not described in this section.
(e) All disclosures of data to the large group purchaser made pursuant to this section shall comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191) and the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, Title XIII of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and implementing regulations.
(f) All disclosures of data to the large group purchaser made pursuant to this section shall comply with the Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 791) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code).
(2) The health insurer shall provide claims data that a qualified statistician has determined are deidentified so that the claims data do not identify or do not provide a reasonable basis from which to identify an individual. If the statistician is unable to determine that the data has been deidentified, then the data that cannot be deidentified shall not be provided by the health insurer to the large group purchaser. A health insurer may provide the claims data in an aggregated form as necessary to comply with subdivisions (e) and (f).
(b) (1) As an alternative to providing claims data required pursuant to subdivision (a), the insurer shall provide, at no charge to a large group purchaser, all of the following:
(A) Deidentified data sufficient for the large group purchaser to calculate the cost of obtaining similar services from other health insurers and plans and evaluate cost-effectiveness by service and disease category.
(B) Deidentified aggregated patient-level data on demographics, prescribing, encounters, inpatient services, outpatient services, and any other data that is comparable to what is required of the health insurer to comply with risk adjustment, reinsurance, or risk corridors pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any rules, regulations, or guidance issued thereunder.
(C) Deidentified aggregated patient-level data used to experience rate the large group, including diagnostic and procedure coding and costs assigned to each service that the insurer has available.
(2) The health insurer shall obtain a formal determination from a qualified statistician that the data provided pursuant to this subdivision have been deidentified so that the data do not identify or do not provide a reasonable basis from which to identify an individual. If the statistician is unable to determine that the data has been deidentified, the health insurer shall not provide the data that cannot be deidentified to the large group purchaser. The statistician shall document the formal determination in writing and shall, upon request, provide the protocol used for deidentification to the department.
(c) Data provided pursuant to this section shall only be provided to a large group purchaser that meets both of the following conditions:
(1) Is able to demonstrate its ability to comply with state and federal privacy laws.
(2) Is a large group purchaser that is either an employer with an enrollment of greater than 1,000 covered lives and at least 500 covered lives enrolled with the health insurer providing the information or a multiemployer trust with an enrollment of greater than 500 covered lives and at least 250 covered lives enrolled with the health insurer providing the information.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer and purchaser from negotiating the release of additional information not described in this section.
(e) All disclosures of data to the large group purchaser made pursuant to this section shall comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191) and the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, Title XIII of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and implementing regulations.
(f) All disclosures of data to the large group purchaser made pursuant to this section shall comply with the Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 791) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code).
(a) Whenever it appears to the department that any person
has engaged, or is about to engage, in any act or practice
constituting a violation of this article, including the filing of
inaccurate or unjustified rates or inaccurate or unjustified rate
information, the department may review rate filing to ensure
compliance with the law.
(b) The department may review other filings.
(c) The department shall accept and post to its Internet Web site any public comment on a rate increase submitted to the department during the 60-day period described in subdivision (d) of Section 10181.7.
(d) The department shall report to the Legislature at least quarterly on all unreasonable rate filings.
(e) The department shall post on its Internet Web site any changes submitted by the insurer to the proposed rate increase, including any documentation submitted by the insurer supporting those changes.
(f) If the commissioner makes a decision that an unreasonable rate increase is not justified or that a rate filing contains inaccurate information, the department shall post that decision on its Internet Web site.
(g) Nothing in this article shall be construed to impair or impede the department's authority to administer or enforce any other provision of this code.
(b) The department may review other filings.
(c) The department shall accept and post to its Internet Web site any public comment on a rate increase submitted to the department during the 60-day period described in subdivision (d) of Section 10181.7.
(d) The department shall report to the Legislature at least quarterly on all unreasonable rate filings.
(e) The department shall post on its Internet Web site any changes submitted by the insurer to the proposed rate increase, including any documentation submitted by the insurer supporting those changes.
(f) If the commissioner makes a decision that an unreasonable rate increase is not justified or that a rate filing contains inaccurate information, the department shall post that decision on its Internet Web site.
(g) Nothing in this article shall be construed to impair or impede the department's authority to administer or enforce any other provision of this code.
The department shall do all of the following in a manner
consistent with applicable federal laws, rules, and regulations:
(a) Provide data to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services on health insurer rate trends in premium rating areas.
(b) Commencing with the creation of the Exchange, provide to the Exchange such information as may be necessary to allow compliance with federal law, rules, regulations, and guidance.
(a) Provide data to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services on health insurer rate trends in premium rating areas.
(b) Commencing with the creation of the Exchange, provide to the Exchange such information as may be necessary to allow compliance with federal law, rules, regulations, and guidance.
