EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 27, 2018) – Rhode Island must act “without delay” to protect consumers from rising health coverage costs brought on by federal policy changes according to a report issued to Governor Raimondo by the state’s Market Stability Workgroup.

“People representing a wide variety of viewpoints engaged in lively discussions over the course of 8 weeks,” said Workgroup co-chair Bill Wray, Chief Risk Officer at the Washington Trust. “The fruits of those discussions are in this report. All of us – consumer advocates, business groups, health insurers and providers – were able to broadly agree on how best to protect Rhode Island’s insurance markets.”

The Workgroup – jointly convened by HealthSource RI (HSRI) and the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) – reached consensus around a package of three near-term actions which it recommends the state pursue “immediately.” The Workgroup notes an urgent need to act in time to impact the rate-setting process for 2020 premiums. The recommendations include:

1. Ensuring Rhode Island has authority to apply for a federal waiver to implement a reinsurance program;
2. Granting the state authority to regulate Short-Term Limited Duration health plans; and
3. Enacting a state-based shared responsibility requirement as soon as practicable and with broad-based support.

Following the release of the Workgroup’s recommendations, the General Assembly passed The Rhode Island Market Stability and Reinsurance Act (S-2934A/H-8351) to authorize HSRI and OHIC to seek a federal waiver through the ACA to establish a state reinsurance program. Reinsurance helps control insurance premiums by establishing a separate fund to pay for some of the most expensive claims for consumers insured in the Individual Market. This legislation authorizes the state to begin the federal waiver application process and does not commit any state funding. Federal savings realized by lower premiums and matching funding from other sources would be identified and proposed separately through 2019 state legislation.

In addition to the above near-term actions, the Workgroup noted that further work is needed, including work focused on how to fund and implement a state reinsurance program and how to best design a shared responsibility requirement; consideration for codifying consumer protections into state law; and work to address the underlying drivers of health care costs in the state.

“Without action at the state level, we will see much higher health insurance rate increases and lose much of the coverage gains we’ve achieved under the Affordable Care Act (ACA),” said Workgroup co-chair Steve Boyle, president of the Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce.

Workgroup Process

In response to federal threats to Rhode Island’s health insurance markets, OHIC and HSRI convened the Market Stability Workgroup, charged with considering what, if any, measures the state should take to mitigate the potential impact of federal changes on health coverage costs, consumer choice, and access.

The Workgroup was established with three guiding principles: sustain a balanced risk pool; maintain a market that is attractive to carriers, consumers and providers; and protect coverage gains achieved under the ACA.

The Workgroup was made up of diverse stakeholders representing business groups, consumers, health insurers, healthcare providers and state legislators. The Workgroup held 8 weekly meetings from April – June.

The group considered recent federal actions that may undermine market stability in Rhode Island, including the repeal of the shared responsibility requirement penalty and the proposal to expand consumer access to non-ACA compliant plans. The Workgroup considered policy options aimed at protecting market stability. These options were categorized in terms of three key provisions of the ACA: affordability, shared responsibility, and insurance reforms.

Information on the Workgroup, including its members, meeting materials, and complete report with recommendations, can be found here.