If that's not challenging enough, it must do so at a time when more people are moving to Washington and living longer. Health carriers support objective standards. Additionally, the commissioner disagrees with the notion that carriers need to raise rates to maintain large reserves, when the emerging managed-care market increasingly shifts financial risk to providers of care. Senn says rates should be reasonable in relationship to the benefits and should be regulated like utility rates to provide a reasonable, but not excessive, rate of return. These will be interesting legislative issues.
Legislation is likely to be introduced which provides for more extensive review of such conversions.
Expect to see such a bill. A review process for mandated benefits is expected. Medical savings accounts. A bill requiring the Health Care Authority to establish an medical saving account program for public employees and basic health plan recipients is likely. Any willing provider.