§ 27-50-10. Wellness health benefit plan. (a) No provision contained in this chapter prohibits the sale of health benefit plans which differ from the wellness health benefit plans provided for in this section.

(b) The wellness health benefit plan shall be determined by regulations promulgated by the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC). The OHIC shall develop the criteria for the wellness health benefit plan, including, but not limited to, benefit levels, cost-sharing levels, exclusions, and limitations, in accordance with the following:

(1)(i) The OHIC shall form an advisory committee to include representatives of employers, health insurance brokers, local chambers of commerce, and consumers who pay directly for individual health insurance coverage.

(ii) The advisory committee shall make recommendations to the OHIC concerning the following:

(A) The wellness health benefit plan requirements document. This document shall be disseminated to all Rhode Island small group and individual market health plans for responses, and shall include, at a minimum, the benefit limitations and maximum cost sharing levels for the wellness health benefit plan. If the wellness health benefit product requirements document is not created by November 1, 2006, it will be determined by regulations promulgated by the OHIC.

(B) The wellness health benefit plan design. The health plans shall bring proposed wellness health plan designs to the advisory committee for review on or before January 1, 2007. The advisory committee shall review these proposed designs and provide recommendations to the health plans and the commissioner regarding the final wellness plan design to be approved by the commissioner in accordance with subsection 27-50-5(h)(4), and as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner on or before March 1, 2007.

(2) Set a target for the average annualized individual premium rate for the wellness health benefit plan to be less than ten percent (10%) of the average annual statewide wage, as reported by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, in their report entitled "Quarterly Census of Rhode Island Employment and Wages." In the event that this report is no longer available, or the OHIC determines that it is no longer appropriate for the determination of maximum annualized premium, an alternative method shall be adopted in regulation by the OHIC. The maximum annualized individual premium rate shall be determined no later than August 1st of each year, to be applied to the subsequent calendar year premium rates.

(3) Ensure that the wellness health benefit plan creates appropriate incentives for employers, providers, health plans and consumers to, among other things:

(i) Focus on primary care, prevention and wellness;

(ii) Actively manage the chronically ill population;

(iii) Use the least cost, most appropriate setting; and

(iv) Use evidence based, quality care.

(4) To the extent possible, the health plans may be permitted to utilize existing products to meet the objectives of this section.

(5) The plan shall be made available in accordance with title 27, chapter 50 as required by regulation on or before May 1, 2007.

History of Section. (P.L. 2000, ch. 200, § 9; P.L. 2000, ch. 229, § 10; P.L. 2003, ch. 120, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 286, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 296, § 2.)