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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 83 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 804
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce E. Tarr
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to strengthen the management of the health care connector.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 83 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 804
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 804) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
strengthen the management of the health care connector. Health Care Financing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 720 OF 2019-2020.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to strengthen the management of the health care connector.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2 of Chapter 176Q of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2striking subsection (b) in its entirety and replacing it with the following:-
3 (b) There shall be a board, with duties and powers established by this chapter, which shall
4govern the connector. The connector board shall consist of 13 members: the secretary for
5administration and finance, or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson; the director of
6Medicaid or a designee; the commissioner of insurance or a designee; the executive director of
7the group insurance commission; 6 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a
8member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries, 1 of whom shall be a health
9economist, 1 of whom shall represent the interests of small businesses, 2 of whom shall be from
10organizations representing employers, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts 2 of 2
11chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters; and 3 members appointed by the
12attorney general, 1 of whom shall be an employee health benefits plan specialist, 1 of whom shall
13be a representative of a health consumer organization and 1 of whom shall be a representative of
14organized labor. No appointee shall be an employee of any licensed carrier authorized to do
15business in the commonwealth. All appointments shall serve a term of 3 years, but a person
16appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term. An appointed member of the
17board shall be eligible for reappointment. The board shall annually elect 1 of its members to
18serve as vice-chairperson.
19 SECTION 2. Said Chapter 176Q, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after
20section 18 the following two new sections:-
21 176Q:19 Health Connector Transparency
22 Section 19. The connector shall be subject to the open meeting law as established under
23G.L.c. 30A, ยงยง18-25 and subject to public records request as established under G.L.c. 66. A
24public record for purposes of this section shall include but not be limited to board votes, meeting
25minutes, financial records, contract, and staff salaries. This information shall also be made
26publicly available on the website of the connector.
27 176Q:20 Return on Investment
28 Section 20. The secretary of administration and finance shall on an annual basis review
29and evaluate the return on investments made by the connector. Said review and evaluation along
30with any recommendations shall be filed with the clerks of the house and senate, the house and
31senate committee on ways, and joint committee on health care financing no later than December
3231 annually.