Bill > H7817

This bill, titled "The Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange Act," amends Rhode Island law to dissolve the Rhode Island health benefits exchange, known as "HealthSourceRI," effective January 1, 2015. The exchange, established under federal law like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was a state-based marketplace for health insurance. The bill mandates that the Governor take administrative actions to transfer the management and operation of this exchange to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by December 31, 2014, ensuring that individuals, families, and businesses enrolled in coverage through the exchange will retain it without interruption and on essentially the same terms. The bill also prohibits any state agency or contracted entity from collecting or expending funds to plan, create, or operate a state-based health insurance exchange after the specified date.