HB1242 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 08467 RPM 38574 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB1242

Introduced , by Rep. Robyn Gabel

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 122/5-3

Amends the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative intent.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law is amended by changing Section 5-3 as follows:

(215 ILCS 122/5-3)

Sec. 5-3. Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds the the health benefits exchanges authorized by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represent one of a number of ways in which the State can address coverage gaps and provide individual consumers and small employers access to greater coverage options. The General Assembly also finds that the State is best positioned to implement an exchange that is sensitive to the coverage gaps and market landscape unique to this State.

The purpose of this Law is to ensure that the State is making sufficient progress towards establishing an exchange within the guidelines outlined by the federal law and to protect Illinoisans from undue federal regulation. Although the federal law imposes a number of core requirements on state-level exchanges, the State has significant flexibility in the design and operation of a State exchange that make it prudent for the State to carefully analyze, plan, and prepare for the exchange. The General Assembly finds that in order for the State to craft a tenable exchange that meets the fundamental goals outlined by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of expanding access to affordable coverage and improving the quality of care, the implementation process should (1) provide for broad stakeholder representation; (2) foster a robust and competitive marketplace, both inside and outside of the exchange; and (3) provide for a broad-based approach to the fiscal solvency of the exchange.

(Source: P.A. 97-142, eff. 7-14-11.)