MA H4948

Establishes a Health Care Access Bureau within the Division of Insurance, overseen by a deputy commissioner, to conduct rate reviews of premium rates for health benefit plans in the small group and individual insurance markets.

Requires the deputy commissioner to develop affordability standards for rate reviews that consider total consumer costs (premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance), purchaser costs, and the impact on the state's health care cost growth benchmark.

Mandates minimum staffing including a first deputy, general counsel, chief health economist, chief actuary, chief research analyst, and chief examiner, all serving at the commissioner's pleasure and exempt from civil service requirements.

Authorizes assessments against licensed health insurance carriers to fund the bureau at $2,000,000 annually, plus additional amounts for indirect and fringe benefit costs attributable to bureau personnel.

Charges the bureau with examining causes of premium rate increases and excessive provider price variation, while coordinating with the Health Policy Commission and Center for Health Information and Analysis to monitor health care spending.