PRINTER'S NO. 3336
No. 573 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, THOMAS, CURRY, BARRAR, BEBKO-JONES,
BELFANTI, BROWNE, CASORIO, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, DERMODY,
DeWEESE, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FREEMAN, GOOD, GOODMAN,
GRUCELA, HANNA, HARHAI, HARPER, HERMAN, HESS, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
KOTIK, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, LEDERER, LEVDANSKY,
MACKERETH, MANDERINO, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, MUNDY, OLIVER,
O'NEILL, PALLONE, PRESTON, READSHAW, ROBERTS, SCAVELLO,
SOLOBAY, STERN, R. STEVENSON, SURRA, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR,
TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, WASHINGTON, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK,
MARCH 8, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, MARCH 8, 2004
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the appointment of a task force to study the health
2 insurance market in this Commonwealth.
3 WHEREAS, Despite legislative activity over the preceding
4 several years, cost and availability problems persist in the
5 health insurance market in this Commonwealth; and
6 WHEREAS, From 2002 to 2003 the cost of health benefits
7 increased 13.7% for employer-provided coverage for employees,
8 retired persons and dependents; and
9 WHEREAS, In that same time frame, nearly three-fourths of
10 large private sector firms increased retirees' contributions to
11 health insurance premiums; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
13 establish a task force to conduct an in-dept investigation of
14 the health insurance market in this Commonwealth; and be it
1 further
2 RESOLVED, That the primary focus of the investigation be a
3 thorough analysis of pricing practices, access, competition in
4 the marketplace and provider discounting practices; and be it
5 further
6 RESOLVED, That the task force investigate insurer reserving
7 practices to determine the extent to which excess reserves
8 sustain regional monopolies and discourage competition; and be
9 it further
10 RESOLVED, That the task force identify successful models
11 being used in other states that could be adapted to the
12 Pennsylvania market; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following
14 members:
15 (1) the Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Banking
16 and Insurance Committee of the Senate;
17 (2) the Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Insurance
18 Committee of the House of Representatives;
19 (3) the Insurance Commissioner;
20 (4) one member appointed by the President pro tempore of
21 the Senate;
22 (5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
23 Senate;
24 (6) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
25 Representatives; and
26 (7) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
27 House of Representatives;
28 and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That members be appointed within 30 days of the
30 passage of this resolution; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the Insurance Commissioner call the initial
2 meeting of the task force, and at such meeting the members elect
3 a chairperson; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the task force be authorized to hold hearings,
5 take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it
6 deems necessary in this Commonwealth; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the task force be authorized to issue
8 subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chairperson commanding
9 any person to appear before the task force and to answer
10 questions touching matters properly being inquired into by the
11 task force and to produce such books, papers, records and
12 documents as the task force deems necessary; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That subpoenas be servable upon any person and have
14 the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts of this
15 Commonwealth and that any person that willfully neglects or
16 refuses to testify before the task force or to produce any
17 books, papers, records or documents be subject to the penalties
18 provided by the laws of this Commonwealth in such case; and be
19 it further
20 RESOLVED, That each member of the task force have power to
21 administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before
22 the task force; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That by October 31, 2004, the task force report to
24 the General Assembly on its activities and findings and make
25 recommendations; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the expenses incurred by the task force in
27 carrying out its responsibilities, including per diem and travel
28 expenses incurred by members and regular staff, stenographic
29 charges and other incidental expenses, be paid from appropriate
30 accounts under the control of the Chief Clerk of the Senate and
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1 the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, one-half of the
2 expenses of the members to be paid by the Senate and one-half of
3 the expenses of the members to be paid by the House of
4 Representatives; and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That within 30 days after the task force has made
6 its report, the chairperson of the task force shall cause a
7 record of all expenses incurred by the members of the task
8 force, which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed
9 with the Chief Clerk of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the
10 House of Representatives.
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