PRINTER'S NO. 1731
No. 1482 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, KUKOVICH, STURLA, TANGRETTI, YOUNGBLOOD,
STEELMAN AND WASHINGTON, APRIL 26, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
APRIL 26, 1995
AN ACT
1 Providing for the establishment of a joint task force between
2 the Department of Health and the Department of Public Welfare
3 to develop and implement on a pilot basis a health insurance
4 continuation program for insured people with acquired
5 immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency
6 virus (HIV); and making an appropriation.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Short title.
10 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health
11 Insurance Continuation Act.
12 Section 2. Legislative findings.
13 The General Assembly finds and declares that an insurance
14 continuation program would lessen dependency on public
15 assistance by forestalling or eliminating the need for
16 individuals with the AIDS/HIV virus from impoverishing
17 themselves to become eligible for Medicaid due to the loss of
18 private insurance coverage, thereby permitting individuals with
19 AIDS/HIV to maintain rewarding part-time or full-time work. An
1 insurance continuation program spreads the cost of health care
2 among private insurance carriers, publicly supported Medicaid
3 and Medicare programs and the patient. An insurance continuation
4 program is a cost-effective means of assisting persons with AIDS
5 and HIV who have private insurance by saving the Commonwealth $9
6 in Medicaid costs for every $1 invested in an insurance
7 continuation program.
8 Section 3. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Departments." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth
13 and the Department of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth.
14 "Task force." The Health Insurance Continuation Joint Task
15 Force of the Department of Health and the Department of Public
16 Welfare created by this act.
17 Section 4. Establishment of Health Insurance Continuation Joint
18 Task Force.
19 (a) Composition.--The task force shall be comprised of the
20 following 11 members:
21 (1) The Secretary of the Department of Health or a
22 designee.
23 (2) The Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare or
24 a designee.
25 (3) Two representatives from nonprofit organizations
26 providing services to individuals with the AIDS/HIV virus, to
27 be appointed by the President of the Senate.
28 (4) Two representatives from the insurance industry to
29 be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.
30 (5) Two representatives from AIDS/HIV service
19950H1482B1731 - 2 -
1 organizations to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
2 Representatives.
3 (6) Two representatives of a nonprofit hospital plan
4 corporation or a representative of a nonprofit professional
5 health service plan to be appointed by the Governor.
6 (7) The Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth or a
7 designee.
8 Section 5. Purpose.
9 The purpose of the task force is to develop and implement on
10 a pilot basis a health insurance continuation program to be
11 administered by the Department of Health.
12 Section 6. Duties of task force.
13 The task force shall:
14 (1) Identify persons with AIDS/HIV that may lose private
15 health insurance coverage due to unemployment or inability to
16 pay.
17 (2) Determine financial eligibility criteria for
18 participation in the program.
19 (3) Determine for eligible participants appropriate
20 procedures for prompt payment of the insurance premiums.
21 (4) Designate appropriate departmental staff who are
22 sensitive to the unique needs of the program's participants
23 to manage the health insurance continuation program.
24 (5) Report to the Committee on Health and Welfare in the
25 Senate and the House of Representatives at least once a year
26 during the existence of the pilot program.
27 (6) Promulgate regulations for the administration of the
28 health insurance continuation program within six months after
29 the effective date of this act.
30 Section 7. Confidentiality protection.
19950H1482B1731 - 3 -
1 To ensure the confidentiality of eligible participants the
2 task force shall establish guidelines for Commonwealth employees
3 administering this act.
4 Section 8. Appropriation.
5 The sum of $50,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
6 is hereby appropriated to the Health Insurance Continuation
7 Joint Task Force for the fiscal year July 1, 1995, to June 30,
8 1996, for premiums. This appropriation shall be a three-year
9 continuing appropriation and shall be allocated so that $50,000
10 is expended in each of the three fiscal years.
11 Section 9. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A26L35SFG/19950H1482B1731 - 4 -