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HOUSE BILL NO. 667
INTRODUCED BY T. WOODS
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE USE OF REFERENCE-BASED PRICING IN INSURANCE PLANS OFFERED IN MONTANA; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
WHEREAS, health care costs continue to negatively impact the citizens and economy of the state of Montana; and
WHEREAS, reference-based pricing has shown promise at controlling health care costs; and
WHEREAS, reference-based pricing brings transparency and consistency to health care costs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Committee on reference-based pricing in health care. (1) There is a committee on reference-based pricing to study the effects of reference-based pricing on health care prices and transparency in health care pricing.
(2) The committee consists of:
(a) six members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, with equal numbers of members from the majority and minority parties; and
(b) six members of the senate appointed by the committee on committees, with equal numbers of members from the majority and minority parties.
(3) The members shall select a presiding officer and vice presiding officer at the first meeting and shall adopt a work plan, including a meeting schedule, by the second meeting.
(4) The committee may meet up to eight times during the interim.
(5) Members are entitled to receive compensation and expenses as provided in 5-2-302.
(6) The legislative services division shall provide staff assistance to the committee.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Duties of the committee. (1) The committee on reference-based pricing shall:
(a) review the development of and use of reference-based pricing in the state employee group benefits plan;
(b) review the use of reference-based pricing by other public employee benefits plans or private insurance plans;
(c) evaluate whether reference-based pricing has:
(i) improved transparency in health care pricing;
(ii) contributed to a reduction in the costs of health care for individuals or the overall costs to the state employee group benefits plan or other plans using the pricing practice and, if so, the degree to which it contributed to reduced costs;
(iii) affected the ability or willingness of health care providers to participate in a health insurance plan or network;
(iv) changed the way individuals make choices when obtaining health care services; or
(v) created barriers for individuals covered by plans using reference-based pricing;
(d) evaluate whether increased use of reference-based pricing could lower health care costs for Montanans;
(e) identify any barriers to greater use of reference-based pricing in health plans and potential solutions to those barriers; and
(f) if practical, develop a plan for implementing reference-based pricing statewide.
(2) The committee may develop legislation as considered appropriate.
(3) The committee shall complete its work by September 15, 2018, and prepare a final report outlining its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The committee shall submit the final report to the 66th legislature, as provided in 5-11-210.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation. There is appropriated $44,000 from the general fund to the legislative services division for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, to support the activities of the committee on reference-based pricing in health care established in [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Contingent voidness. (1) Pursuant to Joint Rule 40-65, if [this act] does not include an appropriation prior to being transmitted to the governor, then [this act] is void.
(2) If the appropriation in [this act] is vetoed, then [this act] is void.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2017.
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Latest Version of HB
667 (HB0667.01)
Processed for the Web on March 31, 2017 (2:39pm)
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