Extends the sunset date of the major business facility job tax credit from January 1, 2020, to July 1, 2022. The bill also requires the Department of Taxation, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2019, to publish the following information about companies that are using the credit: (i) locations of sites used for major business facilities for which a credit was claimed, (ii) North American Industry Classification System codes used for the major business facilities for which a credit was claimed, (iii) number of qualified full time employees for whom a credit was claimed, and (iv) total cost to the Commonwealth's general fund of the credits claimed.
Approved by Governor-Chapter 701 (effective 7/1/19)
Provides certain exceptions, effective July 1, 2020, to the requirement that any prescription for a controlled substance that contains an opioid be issued as an electronic prescription. The bill requires the licensing health regulatory board of a prescriber to grant such prescriber a waiver of the electronic prescription requirement for a period not to exceed one year due to demonstrated economic hardship, technological limitations that are not reasonably within the control of the prescriber, or other exceptional circumstances demonstrated by the prescriber. The bill provides that a dispenser is not required to verify whether one of the exceptions applies when he receives a non-electronic prescription for a controlled substance containing an opioid. The bill requires the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and Optometry to promulgate regulations to implement the prescriber waivers. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to identify successes and challenges of the electronic prescription requirement and offer possible recommendations for increasing the electronic prescribing of controlled substances that contain an opioid and to report to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2022.
Requires health carriers to establish a comparable health care service incentive program under which savings are shared with a covered person who elects to receive a covered comparable health care service from a lower-cost provider. Incentive payments are not required for savings of $25 or less. The measure requires health carriers to comply with transparency requirements beginning with health benefit plans offered or renewed on or after July 1, 2020. Programs are required to be approved by the Commissioner of Insurance. This bill is identical to
Requires the Commissioner of Health, in cooperation with the Bureau of Insurance, to collect health claims data from certain insurers, corporations, managed care organizations, third-party administrators, and any self-funded employee welfare benefit plans (ERISA plans) whose employer has opted-in to the All-Payer Claims Database, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, state government health insurance plans, local government health insurance plans, and federal health insurance plans. The bill provides that employers that maintain an ERISA plan may opt-in to participate in the All-Payer Claims Database and provides a process for such agreement. The bill adds members to the advisory committee to the nonprofit organization that administers the All-Payer Claims Database. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a data release committee to review and approve requests for access to data and prohibits the release of data without the approval of such committee. The bill requires the nonprofit organization to ensure that data is timely submitted to the All-Payer Claims Database and authorizes the Board of Health to assess a civil penalty on entities not in compliance. This bill is identical to
Prohibits an insurer from increasing or decreasing the amount of fire insurance coverage, including fire insurance in combination with other coverage, on commercial property under a policy that has been in effect for at least 60 days unless the first named insured has consented in writing to such a change.
Requires any carrier issuing a health plan in the Commonwealth to count any payments made by another person on the enrollee's behalf, as well as payments made by the enrollee, when calculating the enrollee's overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or any cost-sharing requirement under the carrier's health plan. This bill is identical to
Requires local departments of social services to request the placement of a security freeze on the credit report or record of any child who has been in foster care for at least six months in order to prevent cases of identity theft and misuse of personal identifying information.
Provides that every hospital currently required to provide an estimate of the payment amount for an elective procedure, test, or service for which a patient may be responsible shall also be required to provide each patient with written information regarding his right to request such estimate, to post written information regarding a patient's right to request such estimate conspicuously in public areas of the hospital, and to make such information available on the hospital's website.
Approved by Governor-Chapter 656 (effective 7/1/19)
Extends the expiration of the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2021. The bill also repeals the expiration of the Broadband Advisory Council, and alters and expands from 14 to 17 its total membership. This bill is identical to
Establishes limits on the ability of a health carrier or third-party administrator to sell or otherwise grant access, as provided in a dentist's or oral surgeon's provider contract, to a third-party carrier. The measure provides that such access may be granted only if it is expressly permitted by the provider contract and notice is given to the affected participating providers. The contracting entity or carrier is required to inform participating providers, upon request, which network plans have been granted access to the contract by the contracting entity.
