HOUSE BILL 278

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Deborah A. Armstrong and Javier Martínez and

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE; INCREASING THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SURTAX; DISTRIBUTING A PORTION OF THE REVENUE FROM THE INCREASE TO THE SURTAX TO A NEW HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND; CREATING THE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND TO BE USED TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO REPORT ON EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A PLAN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES FROM THE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Tax Administration Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DISTRIBUTION--HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SURTAX--HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND.--A distribution pursuant to Section 7-1-6.1 NMSA 1978 shall be made to the health care affordability fund in an amount equal to fifty-five percent of the net receipts attributable to the health insurance premium surtax."

     SECTION 2. Section 7-40-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2018, Chapter 57, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "7-40-3. IMPOSITION AND RATE OF TAX--DENOMINATION OF "PREMIUM TAX" AND "HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SURTAX".--

          A. A tax is imposed at a rate of three and three-thousandths percent of the gross premiums and membership and policy fees received or written by a taxpayer, as reported by March 1 of each year to the department in the appropriate schedule, as determined by the department, of the taxpayer's annual financial statement on insurance or contracts covering risks within the state during the preceding calendar year. The tax shall not be imposed on return premiums, dividends paid or credited to policyholders or contract holders and premiums received for reinsurance on New Mexico risks. The tax imposed pursuant to this section may be referred to as the "premium tax".

          B. For a taxpayer that is an insurer lawfully organized pursuant to the laws of the Republic of Mexico, the premium tax shall apply solely to the taxpayer's gross premium receipts from insurance policies issued by the taxpayer in New Mexico that cover residents of New Mexico or property or risks principally domiciled or located in New Mexico.

          C. With respect to a taxpayer that is a property bondsman, "gross premiums" shall be considered any consideration received as security or surety for a bail bond in connection with a judicial proceeding.

          D. The premium tax provided in Subsection A of this section is imposed on the gross premiums received of a surplus lines broker, less return premiums, on surplus lines insurance where New Mexico is the home state of the insured transacted under the surplus lines broker's license, as reported by the surplus lines broker to the department on forms and in the manner prescribed by the department. For purposes of this subsection, "gross premiums" shall include any additional amount charged the insured, including policy fees, risk purchasing group fees and inspection fees; but "premiums" shall not include any additional amount charged the insured for local, state or federal taxes; regulatory authority fees; or examination fees, if any. For a surplus lines policy issued to an insured whose home state is New Mexico and where only a portion of the risk is located in New Mexico, the entire premium tax shall be paid in accordance with this section.

          E. In addition to the premium tax, a health insurance premium surtax is imposed at a rate of [one] three and twenty-five hundredths percent of the gross health insurance premiums and membership and policy fees received by the taxpayer on hospital and medical expense incurred insurance or contracts; nonprofit health care plan contracts, excluding dental or vision only contracts; and health maintenance organization subscriber contracts covering health risks within this state during the preceding calendar year. The [tax] surtax shall not apply to return health insurance premiums, dividends paid or credited to policyholders or contract holders and health insurance premiums received for reinsurance on New Mexico risks. The surtax imposed pursuant to this section may be referred to as the "health insurance premium surtax"."

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Human Services Department Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. The "health care affordability fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of distributions, appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to any other fund. The department shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature for purposes provided by this section. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of human services or the secretary's authorized representative.

          B. The purpose of the fund is to provide initiatives to reduce the cost of health care coverage for New Mexico residents, such as costs of premiums and cost-sharing, for health care plans through the New Mexico health insurance exchange and coverage programs through the department. Money in the fund shall not be used to pay for state contributions toward the medical assistance program established pursuant to Titles 19 and 21 of the federal Social Security Act. If a provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is repealed and the repeal affects coverage for New Mexico residents, the fund may be used to maintain that coverage, as provided by law.

          C. The department shall submit a report to the legislative health and human services committee on the expenditures from the fund no later than October 31 of each year, which shall include:

                (1) a summary of the initiatives implemented pursuant to Subsection B of this section;

                (2) the number of uninsured New Mexico residents who enrolled in coverage as a result of initiatives pursuant to Subsection B of this section; and

                (3) the amount in reduced costs and coverage assistance the initiatives provided in the three previous fiscal years, by income level, county and coverage source."

     SECTION 4. TEMPORARY PROVISION--HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY PLAN.--

          A. No later than December 1, 2020, the secretary of human services shall submit a plan with recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee on expenditures from the health care affordability fund to provide initiatives to assist New Mexico residents with the cost of health care coverage pursuant to Section 3 of this act for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. The plan shall include:

                (1) estimates of the number of uninsured New Mexico residents who would enroll in health care coverage as a result of the initiatives;

                (2) proposals and analysis for improvements to the affordability of health care coverage and in uses of the fund;

                (3) estimates of the number of New Mexico residents that would benefit directly or through market impacts from the initiatives as a result of the proposed improvements;

                (4) estimates of the amount in reduced costs and coverage assistance that may be provided by income level, county and coverage source; and

                (5) recommendations for statutory changes to implement initiatives that may benefit New Mexico residents and small businesses, in accordance with requirements of the constitution of New Mexico.

          B. The human services department shall provide ample opportunities for public input for the plan, including public input sessions, opportunities to submit verbal or written comments and online information and webinars.

          C. A draft plan shall be presented to the board of directors of the New Mexico health insurance exchange and to the medical advisory committee of the department of health at least sixty days prior to the submission of the plan to the legislative health and human services committee. A copy of the plan submitted to that committee shall be transmitted to the legislative finance committee.

     SECTION 5. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of Section 2 of this act apply to estimated payments made beginning on and after July 1, 2020.

     SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2020.

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