HB 679-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2003 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 679-FN
AN ACT relative to medical savings accounts.
SPONSORS: Rep. Wendelboe, Belk 29; Rep. Bicknell, Rock 73; Rep. Scott, Straf 71
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
This bill requires the commissioner of the department administrative services to contract with a suitable company or suitable companies to provide medical savings accounts to state employees as an option to the traditional state employees group health insurance.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03-0690
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three
AN ACT relative to medical savings accounts.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Medical Savings Accounts. Amend RSA 21-I by inserting after section 36-a the following new subdivision:
21-I:36-b Medical Savings Accounts Program Established. The commissioner of administrative services shall establish a medical savings accounts program as an option for state employees in place of the traditional state employees health insurance program. The commissioner is hereby authorized to enter into a contract or contracts with a suitable or suitable companies necessary to implement such program. County employees and school employees may also elect to participate in the medical savings accounts program. The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the implementation of the program.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
03-0690
Revised 2/18/03
HB 679 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to medical savings accounts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Administrative Services and Association of Counties states this bill could decrease state, county, and local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2003 and each year thereafter. This bill will have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Administrative Services states that if Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) were available to state employees, and to county and school district employees, there would be some savings to state, county, and local government by virtue of reduced costs for health insurance. Savings would be determined by the amount of the deductible of the plan associated with the MSA, and the number of employees opting for the MSA. The Department cannot determine the exact fiscal impact at this time.
The Association of Counties states that in the event the MSA program would offer a program with cost savings to counties, they would opt in. However, the Association states the exact savings cannot be determined at this time.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill does not allow municipal employees to participate in an MSA program developed by the Department of Administrative Services, and as a result will have no fiscal impact on municipal government.