278 Community health reinvestment activities; notice no. 2009-01

Community Health Reinvestment Activities; Notice No. 2009-01

[39 Pa.B. 915]
[Saturday, February 14, 2009]

   This notice is to inform you of your new responsibilities for the reporting of community health reinvestment activities as a result of the recent enactment of Act 62 of 2008.

   Under Article XXV of The Insurance Company Law of 1921 (P. L. 682, No. 284), as added by section 9 of Act 62 of 2008 (Article XXV), the Insurance Department (Department) has the duty to approve or disapprove expenditures related to community health reinvestment activities. Community health reinvestment activities are community health services and projects that improve health care or make health care more accessible. The term includes funding, subsidization, or provision of health care coverage for persons who are unable to pay for coverage, of health care services for persons who are uninsured and unable to pay for services, and for programs for the prevention and treatment of disease or injury, including mental retardation, mental disorders, mental health counseling or the promotion of health or wellness. The term does not include expenditures for advertising, public relations, sponsorships, bad debt, administrative costs associated with State health care programs, programs provided as an employee benefit, use of facilities for meetings held by community groups or expenses for in-service training, continuing education, orientation or mentoring of employees.

   In accordance with Article XXV, each hospital plan corporation and professional health service plan corporation is required to submit to the Department on or before March 30 of each calendar year its proposal for the manner in which the plan will provide anticipated community health reinvestment activities during the next fiscal year. Specifically, each plan must provide an itemization of the individual community health reinvestment activities and the cost of each activity. A form for submittal of the proposals is appended to this notice as Exhibit ''A.'' The first submittal will be for the 2009-2010 fiscal year (July 1, 2009--June 30, 2010) and is due on or before March 30, 2009. Once submitted, the proposals are public records and will be posted on the Department's web site.

   Questions concerning this notice and proper reporting of community health reinvestment activities should be directed to: Stephen J. Johnson, CPA, Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Office of Corporate and Financial Regulation, 1345 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone], fax [phone], [e-mail].

JOEL SCOTT ARIO,   
Insurance Commissioner

 

 

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-278. Filed for public inspection February 13, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]