Chapter 47 Oregon Laws 2010 Special Session

AN ACT

HB 3659

Relating to health insurance; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The Temporary High Risk Pool Program Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund, consisting of:

          (a) Moneys appropriated to the Temporary High Risk Pool Program Fund by the Legislative Assembly;

          (b) Premiums paid to the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board by enrollees in the Temporary High Risk Pool Program established in section 2 of this 2010 Act; and

          (c) Federal moneys provided to administer the Temporary High Risk Pool Program and pay health insurance premiums for enrollees in the program.

          (2) All moneys in the Temporary High Risk Pool Program Fund are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board for the purpose of carrying out section 2 of this 2010 Act.

SECTION 2. (1) The Temporary High Risk Pool Program is established to ensure health insurance coverage for individuals who are uninsured and are not enrolled in the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool or other publicly funded medical assistance.

          (2) The program shall be administered by the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board created by ORS 735.610. The board shall adopt rules for the program that are designed to obtain the maximum level of federal funding. The rules shall establish:

          (a) Eligibility criteria for enrollment in the program;

          (b) Health care benefits available through the program;

          (c) The cost of premiums for participation in the program; and

          (d) Other enrollment or benefit coverage conditions for the program.

          (3) The board may limit enrollment in the program based on the anticipated federal funding and enrollee premium payments.

SECTION 3. The Oregon Health Authority may seek approval from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services that is necessary to obtain federal funding of the Temporary High Risk Pool Program established in section 2 of this 2010 Act. The authority shall notify the Legislative Counsel upon receipt of the approval or denial of approval.

SECTION 4. Section 2 of this 2010 Act becomes operative upon the Oregon Health Authority’s receipt of approval from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services as described in section 3 of this 2010 Act.

SECTION 5. Sections 1 to 3 of this 2010 Act are repealed on January 2, 2016.

SECTION 6. This 2010 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2010 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor March 10, 2010

Filed in the office of Secretary of State March 10, 2010

Effective date March 10, 2010

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