Idaho — DOI Company Analysis Supervisor Earns Top Scores on National Examinations: The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) is pleased to announce that Amber Re, Company Analysis Supervisor, has been awarded the 2022 William McCune Award from the Society of Financial Examiners. The McCune Award is given to the individual with the “highest achievement in the Certified Financial Examiner Test Series” i.e. – the best test scores out of anyone in the country.
Certified Financial Examiner (CFE) is one of three professional designations offered by the Society of Financial Examiners (SOFE). This designation is earned by completing extensive requirements including the successful completion of a series of four examinations administered by the Society.
In 2022, just over 20 people in across the country earned their CFE. Ms. Re had the highest combined/aggregate test scores among them. There are approximately 856 CFEs in the United States altogether.
“CFE is a very elite designation. On top of work experience and prerequisite requirements, these tests are extremely difficult. Many of the tests have only middling pass rates,” said Dean L. Cameron, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance. “Nonetheless, Amber’s success reflects how hard she worked, studying endlessly on top of all her other work and personal life. We are incredibly proud of Amber and this amazing accomplishment. The McCune Award is well-deserved.”
Idaho — DOI Publishes Preliminary Health Insurance Rates for 2024: The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) has received preliminary premium rates from health insurance carriers for plans sold starting January 2024. The DOI is seeking public comments before final rates are published.
The DOI is reviewing premium rate submissions from health insurance carriers for 2024’s individual and small group plans. These proposed health insurance premium rates are published on the DOI website at https://doi.idaho.gov/consumers/health-insurance/idaho-rate-review/. The average proposed change in premium by location, by metal level, and the corresponding 2024 rates by plan, as well as the carriers’ explanations for the changes, are made publicly available for comment. Carriers filed individual market rate changes from between -5% to 1%, with an average market change of 0%. By law, the DOI only has the authority to determine the rates “unreasonable” if the requests are not adequately justified. Final rates will be publicly available October 2, 2023, at the same web address.
“We would like to thank Governor Brad Little for his and the Legislature’s support for our 1332 Waiver Application in 2022,” said Director Dean L. Cameron. The 1332 State Innovation “Reinsurance Waiver” reduces the cost of individual market health insurance by offsetting the premium impact of high-cost health conditions.
Idaho is in year one of the 5-year waiver, which has already provided a 12% reduction in rates in 2023. “The anticipated impact for the second year of the waiver in 2024 is that individual health insurance premiums will be 16% lower than they would have been without the waiver,” Director Cameron added. “The waiver continues to benefit Idahoans purchasing individual health insurance more than originally anticipated.”
Comments, questions, or ideas can be submitted via online form at https://doi.idaho.gov/contact-doi/?id=285 or mailed to the following:
2024 Rate Comments
Idaho Department of Insurance
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
The DOI encourages consumers to carefully review all their options with a licensed insurance agent once the final rates are published.
Oregon — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation recently announced the following Permanent rulemaking: PDAB 1-2023: Prescription Drug Affordability Review
Adopt Rule: 925-200-0010
Rule Summary: The methodology for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to select a subset of prescription drugs to prioritize for an affordability review.
Adopt Rule: 925-200-0020
Rule Summary: The process for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to conduct an affordability review on a prioritized subset of prescription drugs.
Filed: July 28, 2023
Effective: August 1, 2023
Oregon — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation recently announced the following Permanent rulemaking: ID 42-2023: Adjustment of insulin cost-sharing rule
Amended Rule: 836-053-0025
Rule Summary: Updates the insulin co-pay amount for health benefit plans.
Filed: July 24, 2023
Effective: August 1, 2023
Oregon — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation recently announced the following Temporary rulemaking: ID 48-2023: Adoption of temporary rules to allow for copayment on primary care visits
Adopt Rule: 836-053-0027
Rule Summary: House Bill 3008 (2023) grants DCBS the authority to adopt rules to allow an individual or group policy or certificate of health insurance to impose a copayment of not more than $5 for certain primary care or behavioral health office visits if necessary to comply with the requirements of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. Proposed OAR 836-053-0027 exercises this authority to authorize copayments of no more than $5.
Filed: July 28, 2023
Effective: July 28, 2023 through January 23, 2024
Washington — Notice of rulemaking on health care benefit manager registration (R 2023-06): The existing Health Care Benefit Manager (HCBM) registration process requires a significant amount of documentation that has been determined to be excessive and does not assist with the registration process. The proposed rule will streamline the registration process. It will also be updated to require HCBMs disclose federal violations.
Comments are due August 18, 2023; please send them to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.
For more information, including the notice to start rulemaking (CR-101), please visit the rule’s webpage.
Washington — Notice of rulemaking on consolidated health care rulemaking (R 2023-07): We are starting rulemaking (R 2023-07) to due to the recent passage of health care and insurance related legislation. This consolidated rulemaking is being considered due to the passage of ESSB 5122 (2011-12), ESHB 1222 (2023-24), E2SHB 1357 (2023-24), SB 5036 (2023-24), SB 5066 (2023-24), SB 5242 (2023-24), SSB 5396 (2023-24), and other related legislation. Currently multiple provisions of health care and insurance regulations in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) may need updated by OIC to be consistent with the legislation passed and codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
This effort may include updating regulatory definitions for emergency medical condition and prior authorizations, clarifying hearing instrument coverage requirements, updating telemedicine timeframes, providing guidance for health care benefit manger and health carrier contract reporting requirements, and clarifying cost sharing for abortion and diagnostic or supplemental breast exams. This rulemaking may impact the following authorities: WAC 284-43-0160, 284-43-7220, 284-44-046, 284-50-270, 284-170-130, 284-180-460, and new sections in Chapters 284-43 and 284-46 WAC.
These rules will facilitate implementation of the new laws by ensuring that all affected health care and insurance entities understand their legal rights and obligations under the enacted legislation.
Comments are due August 16, 2023; please send them to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.
For more information, including the notice to start rulemaking (CR-101), please visit the rule’s webpage.
Washington — Implementation of SHB 1266 prepublication draft posted: We released a pre-publication draft for the implementation of SHB 1266 rule (R2023-01). SHB 1266 (Chapter 27, Laws of 2023) clarified how the Commissioner may communicate with licensees. The Commissioner is considering rules to update what address of record the Commissioner may use when communicating with licensees.
Comments on the pre-publication draft are due August 15th, 2023. Please send them to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.
For more information, including the text of the pre-publication draft, please visit the rule’s webpage.
