HBA-NRS S.B. 333 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 333
By: Moncrief
Public Health
5/11/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, when two or more health insurance plans cover the same
individual the plans are required to coordinate the payment of benefits.
Senate Bill 333 amends the state child health plan  to clarify that child
health plans are secondary health plans in all cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 333 amends law to require the state child health plan (CHIP) or
a health benefit plan provider that provides health benefits coverage to a
child enrolled in CHIP to be the secondary plan when coordinating benefits
with any form of group or individual private health benefits coverage or
private insurance covering the child, in the event of a lapse in coverage.
Accordingly, the bill requires any benefits paid for the child under CHIP
to pay benefits only after private coverage benefits have been exhausted. 

The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Commission to request
a federal waiver before expanding CHIP  to cover adult family members,
consistent with federal waiver authority. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 requires the state child health plan (CHIP) or a
health benefit plan provider that provides health benefits coverage to a
child enrolled in CHIP to be the secondary plan when coordinating benefits
with any form of group or individual private health benefits coverage or
private insurance covering the child, regardless of whether a lapse in
coverage has occurred.