FIRST REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CUNNINGHAM (86).
Read 1st time January 19, 2005 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 174, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to health services provided at public institutions of higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 174, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 174.340, to read as follows:
174.340. 1. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, every public institution of higher education in this state established under this chapter or chapter 172, or 175, RSMo, which contracts for or provides health care services at no cost or a reduced cost to students enrolled at the institution shall:
(1) Not utilize any state appropriations to provide such services to students; and
(2) Require all students enrolled at the institution to select from any one or more of the following options offered by the institution to provide such health care services on a basis which is cost-neutral to the state:
(a) Coverage through private health insurance;
(b) Coverage through a health insurance plan offered by the institution; or
(c) Coverage through self-insurance provided by the institution, the cost of which to be included in the student fees and tuition of such institution; and
(3) Submit an insurance claim for reimbursement for such services provided to students who maintain private health insurance coverage or enroll in a health insurance plan offered by the institution.
2. Every health insurer or health benefit plan, as defined in section 376.1350, RSMo, licensed to do business in this state shall accept all claims for reimbursement submitted under subsection 1 of this section and shall reimburse the public institution of higher education or an entity contracting with the public institution of higher education to provide health care services for students at the reimbursement rate designated in the student's health insurance plan or policy for an out-of-network provider if the public institution of higher education or the entity contracting with such institution to provide health care services for students is not a network provider of the health insurer or health benefit plan.
3. If a public institution of higher education or an entity contracting with such institution to provide health care services for students receives insurance reimbursement for health care services provided, such institution or entity shall not charge a student for any costs incurred in excess of the amount of reimbursement paid by the student's health insurer or health benefit plan for such services.
4. Each public institution of higher education subject to the provisions of this section shall submit a report to the general assembly by July first of the third, fourth, and fifth year of implementation of the requirements of this section. Such report shall, at a minimum, contain the following for each year covered in the report:
(1) The number of students for which a claim of insurance reimbursement was made;
(2) The total dollar amount of insurance reimbursement collected;
(3) The total cost of the health care services provided;
(4) The administrative costs associated with submission of insurance claims; and
(5) Any recommendations or evaluations of the effectiveness or financial benefits resulting in the submission of insurance claims.
5. Pursuant to section 23.253, RSMo, of the Missouri Sunset Act:
(1) The provisions of this section shall automatically sunset six years after the effective date of this section unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and
(2) If this section is reauthorized, this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and
(3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.