Chapter 49 Oregon Laws 2010 Special Session

AN ACT

HB 3667

Relating to health benefit plans for public employees; amending ORS 243.135 and 243.866; and declaring an emergency.

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

SECTION 1. ORS 243.135 is amended to read:

          243.135. (1) Notwithstanding any other benefit plan contracted for and offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board, the board shall contract for a health benefit plan or plans best designed to meet the needs and provide for the welfare of eligible employees and the state. In considering whether to enter into a contract for a plan, the board shall place emphasis on:

          (a) Employee choice among high quality plans;

          (b) A competitive marketplace;

          (c) Plan performance and information;

          (d) Employer flexibility in plan design and contracting;

          (e) Quality customer service;

          (f) Creativity and innovation;

          (g) Plan benefits as part of total employee compensation; and

          (h) The improvement of employee health.

          (2) The board may approve more than one carrier for each type of plan contracted for and offered but the number of carriers shall be held to a number consistent with adequate service to eligible employees and their family members.

          (3) Where appropriate for a contracted and offered health benefit plan, the board shall provide options under which an eligible employee may arrange coverage for family members.

          (4) Payroll deductions for such costs as are not payable by the state may be made upon receipt of a signed authorization from the employee indicating an election to participate in the plan or plans selected and the deduction of a certain sum from the employee’s pay.

          (5) In developing any health benefit plan, the board may provide an option of additional coverage for eligible employees and their family members at an additional cost or premium.

          (6) Transfer of enrollment from one plan to another shall be open to all eligible employees and their family members under rules adopted by the board. Because of the special problems that may arise in individual instances under comprehensive group practice plan coverage involving acceptable physician-patient relations between a particular panel of physicians and particular eligible employees and their family members, the board shall provide a procedure under which any eligible employee may apply at any time to substitute a health service benefit plan for participation in a comprehensive group practice benefit plan.

(7) The board shall evaluate a benefit plan that serves a limited geographic region of this state according to the criteria described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. ORS 243.866 is amended to read:

          243.866. (1) The Oregon Educators Benefit Board shall contract for benefit plans best designed to meet the needs and provide for the welfare of eligible employees and the districts. In considering whether to enter into a contract for a benefit plan, the board shall place emphasis on:

          (a) Employee choice among high-quality plans;

          (b) Encouragement of a competitive marketplace;

          (c) Plan performance and information;

          (d) District flexibility in plan design and contracting;

          (e) Quality customer service;

          (f) Creativity and innovation;

          (g) Plan benefits as part of total employee compensation; and

          (h) Improvement of employee health.

          (2) The board may approve more than one carrier for each type of benefit plan offered, but the board shall limit the number of carriers to a number consistent with adequate service to eligible employees and family members.

          (3) When appropriate, the board shall provide options under which an eligible employee may arrange coverage for family members under a benefit plan.

          (4) A district shall provide that payroll deductions for benefit plan costs that are not payable by the district may be made upon receipt of a signed authorization from the employee indicating an election to participate in the benefit plan or plans selected and allowing the deduction of those costs from the employee’s pay.

          (5) In developing any benefit plan, the board may provide an option of additional coverage for eligible employees and family members at an additional premium.

          (6) The board shall adopt rules providing that transfer of enrollment from one benefit plan to another is open to all eligible employees and family members. Because of the special problems that may arise involving acceptable physician-patient relations between a particular panel of physicians and a particular eligible employee or family member under a comprehensive group practice benefit plan, the board shall provide a procedure under which any eligible employee may apply at any time to substitute another benefit plan for participation in a comprehensive group practice benefit plan.

          (7) An eligible employee who is retired is not required to participate in a health benefit plan offered under this section in order to obtain dental benefit plan coverage. The board shall establish by rule standards of eligibility for retired employees to participate in a dental benefit plan.

(8) The board shall evaluate a benefit plan that serves a limited geographic region of this state according to the criteria described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 3. 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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