Sen. Creigh Deeds

Requires a rate filing by a health carrier that proposes area rate factors in the individual or small group market that exceed the weighted average of the proposed area rate factors among all rating areas by more than 15 percent to include, in publicly available and unredacted form, a comparison of the area rate factor for individual and small group plans that are comparable in structure and a disclosure of the area rate factor methodology. In addition, to the extent that the health carrier is deriving any area rate factor from experience data, the measure requires the health carrier to provide additional information, including aggregated incurred claims for any provider exceeding 30 percent of total claims for the rating area that market. The measure requires the State Corporation Commission to hold a public hearing before approving such proposed rates. The measure also bars the Commission from approving such a proposed rate filing if (i) a variance in area rate factors, indexed to the same rating region for both the individual and small group markets, of 15 percent or more exists between health benefit plans a carrier intends to offer in the individual market and health benefit plans intended to be offered in the small group market, when those plans are comparable in structure and provider networks; and (ii) the methodologies used to calculate the area rate factors are different between the two markets. The measure provides that beginning for plan year 2020, a health carrier with an approved rate filing that contains at least one area rate factor that exceeds by more than 25 percent the weighted average of the area rate factors among all rating areas in a market in which the health carrier offers individual or small group health insurance coverage shall file with the Commission for each calendar quarter during that plan year a report that provides, for each rating area within the market in which the health carrier operates, the plan's enrollment, total premiums, allowed claims, incurred claims excluding anticipated or, if available, actual risk adjustment payments or receipts, incurred claims including anticipated or, if available, actual risk adjustment payments or receipts, loss ratio, and aggregate claims, for each provider exceeding 25 percent of total claims for that rating area. The health carrier shall make each such quarterly report publicly available, without redaction, not later than 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter.

Authorizes any locality by ordinance as part of the application process for rezoning property from an agricultural use to a residential use to require (i) the submission of a geological and geophysical survey; (ii) the development of a karst management plan; and (iii) a written disclosure statement to the prospective purchaser of real property and a statement on the deed and record plat that identifies the presence and locations of karst features.

Provides relief in the amount of $520,163, to Gary Linwood Bush, who was wrongfully convicted of two bank robberies in 2007. In May 2018, after Mr. Bush served 11 years in prison, the Court of Appeals issued writs of actual innocence to Mr. Bush for both robberies after another person confessed and pled guilty to the robberies. The bill also allows Mr. Bush to receive career and technical training within the Virginia Community College System free of tuition charges, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals of any age. Currently, such coverage is required to be provided for individuals from age two through age 10. The provision applies with respect to insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended on or after January 1, 2020.

Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; conservation officers. Adds conservation officers of the Department of Conservation and Recreation as members of the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System. The bill makes conservation officers eligible to accrue retirement benefits under the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System only for creditable service on and after July 1, 2019. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriations act.