MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Insurance; Appropriations

By: Representative Evans

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-95-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI HEALTH FINANCE AUTHORITY BOARD SHALL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE PROVISION OF BASIC HEALTH SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH NO OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD SHALL INCLUDE IN THE MISSISSIPPI HEALTH CARE PURCHASING POOL ALL UNINSURED PERSONS WHO APPLY FOR COVERAGE UNDER THE POOL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-95-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-95-7. (1) The Mississippi Health Finance Authority Board shall formulate and carry out all policies regarding services within the jurisdiction of the authority, and shall adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate necessary rules and regulations after due notice and hearing and where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law. It shall be the duty of the Mississippi Health Finance Authority to provide, to the fullest extent possible, that basic health care benefits are available to all Mississippians. Toward this end, the Mississippi Health Finance Authority Board shall conduct the following activities:

(a) The Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall conduct such research as is necessary to analyze current expenditures for health care for Mississippians, patterns of utilization of health resources, accessibility of providers and services, as well as other factors including, but not limited to, the demography and geography of Mississippi, which affect the quality and cost of health services. Potential savings through such measures as preventive and primary care, managed care, reduction of cost shifting and group purchasing shall be identified and analyzed. The Mississippi Health Finance Authority is authorized to obtain, collect and preserve such information as determined by the authority to be needed to conduct this research and carry out all other duties. No health care provider, health care facility, state agency, insurance company or related entity may refuse to provide the information required by the authority, but may charge a reasonable cost for the collection and reporting of the information. Information received by the authority shall not be disclosed publicly in such manner as to identify individuals or specific facilities. Information collected by the authority that identifies specific individuals or facilities is exempt from disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act. Information obtained by the Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall be governed by state and federal laws, and regulations applicable to the agency from whom information is received.

(b) The Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall determine what basic health services will best serve the needs of the citizens of the State of Mississippi, and in conjunction with such determination, shall identify such additional measures as are desirable to encourage employer participation, promote competition, contain costs and otherwise increase the availability of health benefits to Mississippians.

(c) In conjunction with paragraph (b) of this subsection, the board shall develop a plan for the provision of basic health services to state and local government employees, teachers, persons currently receiving Medicaid benefits, and * * * persons with no other health benefits * * * as specifically provided in subsection (2) of this section. The Mississippi Health Finance Authority Board, in developing the plan, may propose graduated levels of participation proportionate to the participant's level of economic circumstances. This plan should include realization of savings identified through paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(d) If different health plans are proposed, the Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall require written disclosure of treatment policies, practice standards or practice parameters, and any restrictions or limits on normal health services, including, but not limited to physical services, clinical laboratory tests, hospital and surgical procedures, prescription drugs and biologics, and radiological examinations, by each health plan, unless the authority specifically determines it inadvisable to do so.

(e) The Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall determine what criteria are appropriate for certification of purchasing alliances, to protect the health and safety of the beneficiaries of health services provided pursuant to Sections 41-95-1 through 41-95-9.

(f) Effective upon approval of the plan by the Legislature, the Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall establish procedures for the solicitation of bids and subsequent purchase of benefits for persons listed in paragraph (c) of this subsection. In contracting for health benefits, the Mississippi Health Finance Authority shall require such information gathering, reports and other measures as are necessary to monitor the provisions of health benefits and the accounting of all financial transactions therein. These shall include any data to continue the research and analysis set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(2) (a) From and after July 1, 1999, the Mississippi Health Finance Authority Board shall establish the Mississippi Health Care Purchasing Pool for the purpose of providing universal access to the basic benefits plan through a single program funded by the State of Mississippi and administered by the Mississippi Health Finance Authority. In offering and administering the purchasing pool, the board shall not discriminate against individuals or groups based on age, gender, geographic area, industry and medical history. The board shall include in the purchasing pool all employees, retirees and dependents covered by the group health insurance plans of the following entities:

(i) The State of Mississippi;

(ii) The state institutions of higher learning;

(iii) Employees of school districts and community/junior college districts as administered by the Department of Finance and Administration;

(iv) Any political subdivision or municipality, including any school district, that chooses to participate in the pool;

(v) Such portions of the Medicaid caseload as the board deems proper. Access to medical care or benefit levels for Medicaid recipients shall not diminish as a result of participation or nonparticipation in the pool;

(vi) All uninsured persons who apply for coverage under the pool; and

(vii) Any private entity that chooses to participate in the pool.

On and after July 1, 1995, the board may make the purchasing pool available to any employer, group, association or trust that chooses to participate in the pool on behalf of the employees or members of the group, association or trust.

(b) In administering the purchasing pool the authority may:

(i) Contract on behalf of participants in the pool with health care providers, health care facilities and health insurers for the delivery of health care services, including agreements securing discounts for regular, bulk payments to providers and agreements establishing uniform provider reimbursement;

(ii) Consolidate administrative functions on behalf of participants in the pool, including claims, processing, utilization review, management reporting, benefit management and bulk purchasing;

(iii) Create a health care cost and utilization data base for participants in the pool, and evaluate potential cost savings; and

(iv) Establish incentive programs to encourage pool participants to use health care services judiciously and to improve their health status.

(c) On or before December 15 of each year, the authority shall report to the Legislature on the operation of the purchasing pool, including the number and types of groups and group members participating in the pool, the costs of administering the pool, and the savings attributable to participating groups from the operation of the pool.

(d) This subsection (2) shall not be implemented unless (i) the necessary federal waivers have been granted, or (ii) the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services certifies that federal law permits this state to implement this program, and (iii) the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services certifies that full implementation of waiver programs shall receive federal funding at current participation rates, and (iv) further amendment to this section by the Legislature has been enacted and has become law during the 1995 Regular Session or subsequent sessions.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.