HB 791 -- HEALTH CARRIER CLAIMS INFORMATION

SPONSOR:  Wilson (130)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Health Insurance by a vote of 6 to 0.

Beginning January 1, 2008, this bill requires health carriers to
provide a report of the total number and dollar amount of claims
paid in the previous three years within 30 days of an employer's
request.  When an employer has multiple plans, the total dollar
amounts must be combined into one report.  The information will
be furnished in a manner that does not individually identify any
employee or other person covered by the health benefit plan and
will comply with all applicable federal and state privacy laws
regarding the disclosure of health records.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that small employers will benefit
from the bill by being able to shop the health insurance market
with the run/loss data that the bill will require the carrier to
provide.  Small employers can make better and more educated
decisions about purchasing health benefit plans when they have
information about the number and type of claims paid.  Employers
should be entitled to have access to their health benefit plan
information.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wilson (130); Larry
Case, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents; National
Federation of Independent Business; Randy Lueckenotte, Wallstreet
Insurance Group; and United Healthcare.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that carriers would
like to continue providing run/loss data to small employers on a
voluntary basis.  It is valuable to carriers to have a customer,
the small employer, for at least 36 months before run/loss data
is provided.

Testifying against the bill was Coventry Health Care.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that a compromise is
being sought between the Missouri Insurance Coalition, Blue Cross
Blue Shield, and the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents.

Testifying on the bill were Missouri Insurance Coalition; and
Calvin Call, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am