OIC 2020 Overview — Presentation to Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee (January 12, 2021)
Summary
OIC 2020 Overview presentation to the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee, January 12, 2021. The mission statement reads “We protect consumers, the public interest and our state’s economy through fair and efficient regulation of the insurance industry.” The slides on emergency authority state that in 2009 the Legislature granted the Insurance Commissioner authority to take certain actions once the Governor declares an emergency, with an initial duration of 60 days and 30-day extensions. The health insurance emergency orders waive copays/deductibles for COVID-19 testing and prohibit prior authorization for COVID-19 treatment. The property & casualty emergency order numbered 20-03 provided grace periods for nonpayment of premiums.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
- Issuer
- Congressional materials
- Date
- 2021-01-12
Cite this document
“OIC 2020 Overview — Presentation to Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee (January 12, 2021).”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2021-01-12. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-01-12-2021-01-12-a28147-d224219-noski-myrum-forte-beyer-oic-presentation/
, SHA-256 566d857cb7b9a0793be8c6f86034a9be8ddb4086dc04df20031ee87ad5c123aa.Full text
OIC 2020 Overview
Presentation to Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee
January 12, 2021
Mission statement
“We protect consumers, the public interest and our
state’s economy through fair and efficient regulation
of the insurance industry.”
January 12, 2021
OIC Primary Activities
• Monitor insurer solvency
• Protect and educate insurance consumers
• Review and approve insurers’ rates and forms
• License and oversee insurance producers
• Reduce insurance fraud and unlawful activities
• Rulemaking
January 12, 2021
COVID-19 Response
Emergency Orders and other Pandemic Response
January 12, 2021
Emergency Authority
• In 2009, the Legislature granted Insurance the
Commissioner authority to take certain actions
once the Governor declares an emergency (RCW
48.02.060)
• Scope of authority:
• Reporting requirements for claims
• Grace periods and other duties of insureds
• Temporarily postpone cancellations/non-renewals
• Medical coverage to ensure access to care
• Initial duration: 60 days, with 30-day extensions
January 12, 2021
Health Insurance Emergency Orders
1. Waives copays/deductibles for COVID-19 testing
2. Prohibits prior authorization for COVID-19 treatment
3. Expands coverage of additional methods for providing
telehealth services, including telephone
4. Protects consumers from surprise bills from labs
https://www.insurance.wa.gov/coronavirus-and-health-
insurance
January 12, 2021
Property & Casualty Emergency Orders
Issued two emergency orders related to property &
casualty insurance
• In effect from March 25 – May 9
Emergency Order 20-03
Provided grace periods for nonpayment of
premiums and temporarily prohibited cancellation
for nonpayment of premiums
January 12, 2021
Property & Casualty Emergency Orders
Emergency Order 20-05
Addressed the issue of replacement cost coverage
during the repair process.
And allowed insureds to fully recover the benefits of
their coverage if there was a deadline affected by
the construction industry's shut down.
January 12, 2021
Implementation of new laws
Balance Billing Protection Act
• Prohibits balance (surprise) billing for emergency services,
and surgical/ancillary services at in-network facilities
• Protections considered among the nation’s strongest
• Approved unanimously by 2019 Legislature
• Currently reviewing federal “No Suprises Act”
(Chap. 427, Laws of 2019/Chap. 48.49 RCW)
January 12, 2021
Implementation of new laws – required rulemaking
Health Insurance
SHB 2338: Protecting consumers from discrimination in health care
ESHB 2642: Access to substance use disorder treatment
HB 1879: Prescription drug utilization management
HB 1099: Network access and notice requirements
SB 5899: Confidential communications
SB 5601: Health care benefit managers
2SHB 1065: Implementation of the Balance Billing Protection Act
Property and Casualty Insurance
HB 2322 (2018): Risk mitigation
January 12, 2021
Disaster Resiliency Work Group
• Created through SSB 5106 (2019), to make
recommendations on disaster resiliency.
• Over 30 public and private members.
Key recommendations:
• Create resiliency program in Governor’s Office.
• Include volunteer advisory board.
• Initial funding of $650,000.
• Coordinate statewide efforts.
January 12, 2021
Legislative Priorities for 2021
• Prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine
rates for personal lines of insurance.
• Concerning reinsurance agreements.
• Concerning insurance adjusters.
• Captive Insurance study.
January 12, 2021
Questions?
Jon Noski
Legislative Liaison
JonN@oic.wa.gov, (360) 972-4485
Connect with us!
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WSOIC
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WA_OIC
• www.insurance.wa.gov
January 12, 2021
File and source
- File
- 2021-01-12_a28147_d224219_noski-myrum-forte-beyer-oic-presentation.pdf
- Size
- 2,097,356 bytes
- SHA-256
- 566d857cb7b9a0793be8c6f86034a9be8ddb4086dc04df20031ee87ad5c123aa
- Original
- app.leg.wa.gov