HB21-1135 Summary

• Defines "health-care cost-sharing arrangements" as health care sharing ministries or medical cost-sharing communities that collect regular member contributions to share medical costs.

• Requires arrangements to file annual reports to the insurance commissioner by March 1, 2022 and each March 1 thereafter, including financial statements, membership data, provider lists, and statistics on submitted, paid, and denied medical bills.

• Mandates written disclosures to members and prospective members before January 1, 2022 stating that participation does not guarantee payment, members remain personally responsible for bills, and preexisting condition exclusions may apply.

• Requires arrangements to respond to member and provider payment requests within a specified timeframe set by rule, with failure to respond or pay in full constituting a denial of coverage.

• Authorizes the insurance commissioner to impose civil penalties up to $500 for initial violations and $5,000 for subsequent violations, plus issue emergency cease-and-desist orders against fraudulent or dangerous conduct.