GAHU Committee on Government Affairs Mission Statement

GEORGIA ASSOCIATIONS OF HEALTH UNDERWRITERS
POLICIES & PROCEDURES 

GAHU - Under the Gold Dome Report - April 23, 2010

The count-down to the end of session has started.  This week saw two frenzied days of deal making and bill changing. 

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DOL CHIPRA

Fact Sheet

What happened this week:

SB 310 was voted on April 21^st and passed.  This bill would put pharmacy benefit managers under the regulation of the Department of Insurance.  Section 2 of this bill now includes MEWA language that requires $200,000 of surplus and a $100,000 security deposit and excess reinsurance requirements.

HB 656 regarding self-insurance for religious groups (particularly the Mennonites) passed the Senate on April 21^st.

HB 305 regarding group life insurance passed the Senate on April 21^st.

HB 1268 the "ARRA Fix" bill passed the Senate on April 21^st.

HB 1364 that deals with self-insured worker's comp plans and the insolvency pool passed the Senate on April 20^th.

The following bills have gone through committee and wait their turn on the floor for voting:

SB 316  If passed, Georgia will join 27 other states have similar legislation that would allow Medi-gap type policies to be sold to eligible individuals under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare due to end-stage renal failure or other such diseases.

SB 411  This bill would allow wellness or health improvement plans to provide incentives for healthy behavior.

SB 161 This bill creates an Autism Study Group that will study the different types of treatments available and will set the stage for legislation in the 2012 legislative session.

SB 481 which cleans up the language for surviving spouses to 90 days for conversion of the policies. 

HB 412 which regulates network access (originally included in SB 50).

HB 1184 , the Governor's cross state lines selling bill.

What's happening next week:

All of the bills mentioned above may come to the floor for votes, as well as:

SB 50, the network bill (see HB 412 above) was reported favorably out of committee. This bill has changed substantially since first introduced.

SB 363 which would allow the Student Finance Committee the ability to be included in the state benefit plan was reported favorably out of the House committee.

The last two days of session are April 27^th and April 29^th.  We will continue to work with the legislators and lobbyists in following the bills that impact our business and consumers.  We have met with several of the key legislators and regulators about working through the job of crafting the Georgia response to the federal legislation.

Thank you for your kind words of support!  We must stay engaged and participate in the process of protecting the consumers' future!

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Wetherton