1569 HIGHMARK Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; ClassicBlue major medical plan (central region); rate filing
HIGHMARK Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; ClassicBlue Major Medical Plan (Central Region); Rate Filing [33 Pa.B. 4042] By Filing No. 200316 (Department ID No. A71997001), HIGHMARK Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield requests approval to increase premium rates for its ClassicBlue Major Medical Plan (Central Region). The filing requests an increase of 3.4% from current premium. This will affect about 460 contract holders and produce additional annual premium income of about $34,000.
In addition to the increase in premium rates, the following changes are being made to the ClassicBlue Major Medical Plan:
* The prescription drug coinsurance will change from 50% to 70%.
* The prescription drug benefit will become closed formulary and hard mandatory generic.
* A $25,000 calendar year prescription drug maximum per member is being added.
* The physical therapy benefit will change from unlimited visits to 15 visits per calendar year.
* The speech and occupational therapy benefits will change from unlimited visits to 15 visits per calendar year.
* A $25,000 calendar year maximum that includes a $2,000 calendar year maximum for private duty nursing and a $1,500 calendar year maximum for mental health/substance abuse on an outpatient basis is being added.
The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2004.
Copies of the filing are available for public inspection during normal working hours, by appointment, at the Insurance Department's regional offices in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections to Rashmi Mathur, Actuary, Bureau of Accident and Health Insurance, Insurance Department, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120 within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
M. DIANE KOKEN,
Insurance Commissioner[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-1569. Filed for public inspection August 8, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
