1     
PREMIUM SUBSIDY AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 SIXTH SPECIAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan

5     
Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the maximum premium subsidy the Department of Health can request
10     for the Utah Premium Partnership for Health Insurance program.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     amends the maximum premium subsidy the Department of Health can request for
14     the Utah Premium Partnership for Health Insurance program in fiscal year 2020-21;
15     and
16          ▸     permits the Department of Health to increase that maximum in subsequent fiscal
17     years subject to:
18               •     increases in premium costs; and
19               •     appropriations.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          This bill provides a special effective date.
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          26-18-3.8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapters 4
27     and 20

28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 26-18-3.8 is amended to read:
31          26-18-3.8. Maximizing use of premium assistance programs -- Utah's Premium
32     Partnership for Health Insurance.
33          (1) (a) The department shall seek to maximize the use of Medicaid and Children's
34     Health Insurance Program funds for assistance in the purchase of private health insurance
35     coverage for Medicaid-eligible and non-Medicaid-eligible individuals.
36          (b) The department's efforts to expand the use of premium assistance shall:
37          (i) include, as necessary, seeking federal approval under all Medicaid and Children's
38     Health Insurance Program premium assistance provisions of federal law, including provisions
39     of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148;
40          (ii) give priority to, but not be limited to, expanding the state's Utah Premium
41     Partnership for Health Insurance Program, including as required under Subsection (2); and
42          (iii) encourage the enrollment of all individuals within a household in the same plan,
43     where possible, including enrollment in a plan that allows individuals within the household
44     transitioning out of Medicaid to retain the same network and benefits they had while enrolled
45     in Medicaid.
46          (2) The department shall seek federal approval of an amendment to the state's Utah
47     Premium Partnership for Health Insurance program to adjust the eligibility determination for
48     single adults and parents who have an offer of employer sponsored insurance. The amendment
49     shall:
50          (a) be within existing appropriations for the Utah Premium Partnership for Health
51     Insurance program; and
52          (b) provide that adults who are up to 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for
53     premium subsidies in the Utah Premium Partnership for Health Insurance program.
54          (3) For the fiscal year 2020-21, the department shall seek authority to increase the
55     maximum premium subsidy per month for adults under the Utah Premium Partnership for
56     Health Insurance program to $300.
57          (4) Beginning with the fiscal year 2021-22, and in each subsequent fiscal year, the
58     department may increase premium subsidies for single adults and parents who have an offer of

59     employer-sponsored insurance to keep pace with the increase in insurance premium costs,
60     subject to appropriation of additional funding.
61          Section 2. Effective date.
62          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
63     upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
64     Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
65     the date of veto override.