(1) The health insurance partnership board shall:

     (a) Develop policies for enrollment of small employers in the partnership, including minimum participation rules for small employer groups. The small employer shall determine the criteria for eligibility and enrollment in his or her plan and the terms and amounts of the employer's contributions to that plan, consistent with any minimum employer premium contribution level established by the board under (d) of this subsection;

     (b) Designate health benefit plans that are currently offered in the small group market that will qualify for premium subsidy payments. At least four health benefit plans shall be chosen, with multiple deductible and point-of-service cost-sharing options. The health benefit plans shall range from catastrophic to comprehensive coverage, and one health benefit plan shall be a high deductible health plan. Every effort shall be made to include health benefit plans that include components to maximize the quality of care provided and result in improved health outcomes, such as preventive care, wellness incentives, chronic care management services, and provider network development and payment policies related to quality of care;

     (c) Approve a mid-range benefit plan from those selected to be used as a benchmark plan for calculating premium subsidies;

     (d) Determine whether there should be a minimum employer premium contribution on behalf of employees, and if so, how much;

     (e) Determine appropriate health benefit plan rating methodologies. The methodologies shall be based on the small group adjusted community rate as defined in Title 48 RCW. The board shall evaluate the impact of applying the small group community rating with the partnership principle of allowing each employee to choose their health benefit plan, and consider options to reduce uncertainty for carriers and provide for efficient risk management of high-cost enrollees through risk adjustment, reinsurance, or other mechanisms;

     (f) Conduct analyses and provide recommendations as requested by the legislature and the governor, with the assistance of staff from the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner.

     (2) The board may authorize one or more limited health care service plans for dental care services to be offered by limited health care service contractors under RCW 48.44.035. However, such plan shall not qualify for subsidy payments.

     (3) In fulfilling the requirements of this section, the board shall consult with small employers, the office of the insurance commissioner, members in good standing of the American academy of actuaries, health carriers, agents and brokers, and employees of small business.

[2007 c 260 § 5.]