HB 1947: Relating to ensuring the ongoing sustainability and vitality of the Washington Health Benefit exchange by providing a financing mechanism sufficient to defray the exchange’s operating expenses

Sponsored by Representative Cody, this bill states that the Exchange may require each carrier writing premiums for qualified health benefits plans or dental plans through the exchange to pay an assessment on a quarterly basis in an amount necessary to fund the operations of the exchange in the following quarter.  These assessments may be made only if funds in the current quarter are insufficient to fund exchange operations in the following quarter at the level appropriated by the legislature. The assessments will be based on the number of people for whom the carrier provides coverage. In addition, health maintenance organizations and health care service contractors must pay an annual 2% tax on the total amount of all premiums and prepayments for health care services collected.