SB 229-1_ Filed 02/22/2001, 10:38

MR. PRESIDENT:

    The Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 229, has had the same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as follows:

SOURCE: Page 1, line 4; (01)CR022901.1. -->     Page 1, line 4, delete "Office of Health Care Ombudsman" and insert " Health Insurance Educator".
    Page 1, line 6, delete "a".
    Page 1, line 7, after "(1)" insert " a".
    Page 1, line 8, delete "or".
    Page 1, line 9, after "(2)" insert " a".
    Page 1, line 10, delete "." and insert " ; or".
    Page 1, between lines 10 and 11, begin a new line block indented and insert:
        " (3) any other benefit program that provides payment, reimbursement, or indemnification for the costs of health care except:
            (A) worker's compensation or similar insurance; or
            (B) benefits provided under a certificate of exemption issued by the worker's compensation board under IC 22-3-2-5.".
    Page 1, line 13, delete ""ombudsman"" and insert " "health insurance educator"".
    Page 1, line 14, delete "care ombudsman" and insert " insurance educator".

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    Page 1, line 15, delete ""office"" and insert " "position"".
    Page 1, line 15, after "the" delete "office" and insert " position".
    Page 1, line 16, delete "care ombudsman" and insert " insurance educator".
    Page 1, line 17, delete "an office" and insert " the position".
    Page 1, line 17, delete "care" and insert " insurance educator".
    Page 2, line 1, delete "ombudsman".
    Page 2, line 1, delete "The office shall be".
    Page 2, delete line 2.
    Page 2, line 3, delete "care" and insert " insurance educator".
    Page 2, line 4, delete "ombudsman".
    Page 2, line 5, after "plans" insert " , education,".
    Page 2, line 8, after "Sec. 8." insert " (a)".
    Page 2, line 8, delete "office" and insert " health insurance educator".
    Page 2, line 9, delete "with" and insert " in making informed choices regarding".
    Page 2, line 10, delete "plan selection" and insert " plans".
    Page 2, line 10, delete "information, referral, and" and insert " information about the following:
             (A) The purchase, or enrollment in, a health benefit plan.
            (B) The manner in which to resolve a dispute with a health benefit plan.
            (C) The method of filing a claim under a health benefit plan.
            (D) The availability of resources useful to a health benefit plan consumer.
            (E) Consumer rights and responsibilities under a health benefit plan.
            (F) Comparative information about health benefit plans to consumers and purchasers of health benefit plans.
            (G) Other matters that may further a health benefit plan consumer's knowledge of health insurance benefit plans.
        (2) Apply to obtain funds through federal grants and any other source. Any funds obtained shall be used to fulfill the purposes described in subdivision (1).
    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), the health insurance educator shall not recommend a particular company, insurance

producer, or product.".
    Page 2, delete lines 11 through 42.
    Delete page 3.
    (Reference is to SB 229 as introduced.)

and when so amended that said bill do pass.

Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0.

    Miller

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