ND HB1378

Legislative management shall assign a committee during the 2015-16 interim to study federal rules on essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act, including the state's ability to define a state-based essential health benefits package and select a benchmark plan for 2017 and beyond.

Based on committee findings, legislative management may issue a directive to the governor to notify the federal government of North Dakota's decisions regarding benchmark plans and essential health benefits for 2017 and beyond.

Any directive issued cannot require the federal government to add benefits not previously included in the state's 2014 benchmark plan options, 2014 essential health benefits package, or 2017 and beyond benchmark plan options.

Any directive cannot create state liability due to state reimbursement requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

If the federal Affordable Care Act is repealed during the study, the committee must assess whether the repeal impacts the state's decisions on benchmark plans and essential health benefits for 2017 and beyond.

Legislative management shall report findings, decisions, directives, and recommendations to the sixty-fifth legislative assembly.