Senate Bill 580 Summary

• Establishes the Indiana Health Exchange under the Commissioner of Insurance to facilitate purchase of qualified health plans for individuals and small employers, effective July 1, 2011.

• Requires the Commissioner and Secretary of Family and Social Services to hold public meetings and recommend to the Health Finance Commission by September 30, 2011 whether the exchange should be administered by a state agency or nonprofit organization.

• Mandates the exchange provide toll-free assistance, internet enrollment, standardized plan comparisons, premium tax credit calculators, and navigator services to inform consumers about qualified health plans and federal subsidies.

• Requires health plans seeking certification as "qualified health plans" to meet federal standards including essential health benefits, cost-sharing limits, network adequacy, accreditation, and quality improvement requirements approved by the Commissioner.

• Authorizes the exchange to charge carriers assessments or user fees to fund operations and requires public transparency about administrative costs and waste, fraud, or abuse.