SS/SB 414 - This act creates the "Missouri Health Insurance Innovation Task Force" with the purpose of soliciting concepts and making recommendations for a section 1332 innovation waiver application under the Affordable Care Act. The task force shall focus on improving access to health care, decreasing premiums, and increasing the number of carriers. The task force shall consist of members specified in the act, with the Director of the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration to serve as chair. Members shall serve without compensation, but members and staff shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The Director may expend funds as necessary to conduct the business of the task force, including commissioning actuarial reviews of waiver concepts considered by the task force.
Unless the deadline is extended by majority vote of the task force, no later than December 31, 2019, the chair shall complete a final report of the task force's activities and recommendations, to be delivered to the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Recommendations of the task force shall be revenue neutral and shall be approved by a majority of the task force members.
The act authorizes the Department to work with the task force and with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop innovative ways to transform the health insurance marketplace and to submit applications for a section 1332 innovation waiver under the Affordable Care Act.
The act shall not be construed to permit the Department, or any other state agency, to implement or operate a state-based exchange or to facilitate in the operation of a federally facilitated marketplace as otherwise prohibited by law. However, the state may take over ancillary administrative functions in furtherance of the objectives of the act.
Provided the General Assembly accepts the task force's findings by filing with the Secretary of State no later than March 15, 2020, a petition signed by 2/3 of each chamber, the Director shall, subject to approval by the governor and no later than December 31, 2020, or as soon as practicable following the enactment of any legislation necessary for the state to qualify, submit an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeking approval of a section 1332 innovation waiver based on the recommendations of the task force.
This act is similar to HCS/HB 1030 (2019) and HB 780 (2017).
ERIC VANDER WEERD