AN ACT relating to health insurance and declaring an emergency.
     Create new sections of Subtitles 17 and 18 of KRS Chapter 304 pertaining to health insurance to incorporate provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act; permit health insurers that left Kentucky on or after July 15, 1995, to reenter the state and do business; amend KRS 304.17A-095 to delete provision that requires a rate hearing if the proposed increase exceeds the amount in excess of three percent above the increase in the consumer price index; provide that the premium rate for plans issued to high-risk individuals under modified community rating who at the time of issuance had a high-risk condition cannot be increased by more than 25 percent on either of the first two renewal dates; require that rates be deemed approved if the filing contains a loss ratio guarantee; amend KRS 304.14-130, 304.18-050, 304.14-120, and 304.38-200 to conform; create new sections of Subtitles 17, 18, 32, and 38 of KRS Chapter 304 to require health insurance policies that provide coverage for family members to provide the same benefits for legally adopted children or children for which the insured is the legally appointed guardian; require minimum inpatient care for mother and newly born child; create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to provide for the phase-out of the Kentucky Health Purchasing Alliance by December 31, 1998; prohibit provider-sponsored health delivery networks from accepting any new business on and after the effective date of this Act; prohibit renewal of coverage of an individual who is not a state employee or a small group who is covered under KRS 18A.2251 or 18A.2281; create new sections of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to provide for provisions on patient protections; require insurers to disclose certain information to enrollees; require managed care plans to provide telephone access, reasonable standards for waiting times for appointments, coverage for emergency room screening and stabilization without prior authorization, and a policy for termination of providers; prohibit providers from being penalized for disclosure of certain information; require plans to have drug utilization review; require a denial letter be sent to enrollee within 20 days of denial of coverage for experimental services; require plans to appoint a physician as medical director; establish a patient's right of privacy; amend KRS 304.17A-150 on unfair trade practices; amend KRS 304.17A-170 to conform; repeal effective January 1, 1999, the following statutes: KRS 304.17A-010, 304.17A-020, 304.17A-030, 304.17A-040, 304.17A-050, 304.17A-060, 304.17A-070, 304.17A-090, 304.17A-100, 304.17A-110, 304.17A-120, 304.17A-130, 304.17A-135, 304.17A-140, 304.17A-145, 304.17A-160, 304.17A-300, and 304.17A-310; EMERGENCY.

     Jan 23-introduced in House
     Jan 26-to Health and Welfare (H)