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Committee approves changes to patient-assistance notice and reporting, adds sunset and reporting requirements
Summary
The committee concurred with House amendments to modify assistance program notice requirements, add HEAU complaint mechanism and require reporting and a 3½-year sunset; the amended measure removes a plan-year duration requirement and sets a January 1 enactment date.
The Health and Government Operations Committee on Thursday concurred with changes to House Bill 773 that alter requirements for patient-assistance programs and add reporting and a limited sunset.
Under the amendments described to the committee, the bill removes a requirement that assistance last for the plan year and instead requires that the provider of assistance include in notice to the insured the duration and maximum dollar amount of the assistance. The notice must inform the insured that if the provider fails to comply with the stated maximum amount or expiration date, the insured should file a complaint with HEAU; the notice would include HEAU’s contact information. The amendments also require HEAU to report to the Department of Finance and HDO on the number and type of complaints received. The measure includes a 3-year, 6-month sunset to allow the General Assembly to review the program’s effects; it has a Jan. 1 effective date.
A committee member described the changes as the result of discussions with patient advocates and noted wide variation in how assistance programs operate across plans. “These assistance programs vary. They are like all over the map in terms of how they’re implemented, where the funds go, who is getting the funds,” the vice chair said, explaining the rationale for removing the plan-year requirement and adding reporting and a temporary sunset to evaluate implementation.
The committee moved and seconded the concurrence; after no questions, members approved the measure by voice vote.
What the amendments do
- Removes the requirement that assistance funds last only for a plan year and instead requires the notice to specify duration and maximum dollar amount for assistance. - Requires the notice to include HEAU contact information and to instruct insureds to file complaints with HEAU if the assistance provider does not comply with the stated terms. - Requires HEAU to report data on complaints to the Department of Finance and HDO (as stated in the transcript). - Adds a 3-year, 6-month sunset to permit legislative review and sets a Jan. 1 enactment date.
Ending: The committee concurred with the House amendments and reported the bill favorably; the committee chair closed discussion and moved to other items.
