HB 234 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE

Rep Dayan Hochman-Vigil

Actions: [2] HHHC/HAFC-HHHC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 HB234 establishes a fund of $70,000.000 for the support of malpractice premiums for certain health care providers who meet criteria. The Superintendent of Insurance will administer the program and establish rules, priority criteria and protect confidential information at required by law.  

 Synopsis: (HB234) relates to insurance by establishing a program to provide medical malpractice premium assistance for certain health care providers and creating a fund by making an appropriation 
Analysis: House Bill 234 (HB234)   The Medical Malpractice Premium Assistance Fund,(the Fund) is created as a non-reverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. The Office of Superintendent of Insurance shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the Office of Superintendent of Insurance to establish and administer a program to provide medical malpractice premium reimbursement to certain health care providers. 
The Fund shall reimburse independent health care providers or independent health care provider groups not employed by a hospital or health system a percentage of the cost of the independent health care provider's or independent health care provider group's annual medical malpractice premium, depending on years practicing in the state, as follows: (1) zero to three years, twenty-five percent; (2) four to seven years, fifty percent; (3) eight to eleven years, seventy-five percent; or (4) twelve years or more, one hundred percent.
 To receive medical malpractice premium reimbursement, an independent health care provider or independent health care provider group shall apply to the Office of Superintendent of Insurance and provide proof of: (1) licensure in this state as a: (a) certified registered nurse anesthetist; (b) certified nurse-midwife; (c) certified nurse practitioner; (d) chiropractic physician; (e) physician; (f) physician assistant; or (g) podiatrist; (2) the number of years of practice in the state; ((3) participation in the patient's compensation fund and payment of the associated surcharge; (4) payment of professional liability insurance coverage, obtained from a medical liability insurer authorized to provide such insurance, for coverage at two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per occurrence, for not more than three occurrences in one calendar year; and (5) completion of a full year of practice corresponding to the period of medical malpractice coverage for which reimbursement is being sought.
The Office of the Superintendent shall develop priority criteria for disbursements to eligible applicants.
Also, provide forms, procedures, standard and information to be distributed to eligible applicants.
The Superintendent is to provide privacy of information as required by state and federal law and to promulgate rules and regulations as necessary.
An appropriation of $70,000.000 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance for expenditure in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years to reimburse certain health care providers for medical malpractice premiums.