NAIC Regulatory Framework Task Force Meeting Report: May 7
May 7, 2009
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Regulatory Framework (B) Task Force (“Task Force”), a subcommittee of the NAIC Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee, met via teleconference on May 7, 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Task Force’s 2009 objectives and goals, which include the review of issues concerning the standardization of forms practices and procedures in health insurance underwriting, with respect to regulatory modernization that promotes administrative efficiency and reduction of associated costs.
This mission developed from a 2008 Task Force directive to research the issue of application form standardization. The Task Force decided to broaden that charge to address the uniformity of all forms related to gathering health data.
When asked about the breadth of the project, a Task Force member responded that he perceived that the focus of the project is on promoting administrative efficiency and the reduction of associated costs. Another member added that health form applications are not currently being considered in the federal health reform package.
There will be further discussion of this issue at the NAIC Summer 2009 National Meeting on June 13-16, 2009, in Minneapolis. For a tentative agenda of the meeting, click here.
Update on External Review Model Notices and Forms
A draft of the external review model notices and forms developed by the Task Force under the Uniform Health Carrier External Review Model Act (Model 76 — recently adopted by the NAIC), was circulated in August 2008 for comments, and has been revised accordingly.
The revisions, which reflect the comments received on the initial drafts, are attached. Comments on the revised draft are requested to be submitted on or before May 28, 2009, and will be reviewed and discussed at the Task Force’s meeting during the NAIC Summer National Meeting in Minneapolis.
Request for Information Regarding Wellstone-Domenici Act
The “Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008,” which takes effect on October 3, 2009, requires group health plans sponsored by companies with more than 50 employees to provide coverage for treatment of mental illnesses comparable to that provided for physical illnesses. The NAIC does not have a model act on mental health parity. As a result, the Task Force has been acting as a facilitator on this issue and has requested comments from both state and industry representatives on or before May 28, in order to gather more detail on implementation of the law, including financial requirements.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass& Abate.
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