As Introduced 1 122nd General Assembly 4 Regular Session H. B. No. 212 5 1997-1998 6 REPRESENTATIVES NETZLEY-TIBERI-BUCHY-LEWIS-HAINES-HOTTINGER- 8 MOTTLEY-SCHUCK-GARCIA 9 11 A B I L L To enact section 124.823 of the Revised Code to give 13 state employees the option of choosing medical 14 savings accounts for their health care coverage. 15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 17 Section 1. That section 124.823 of the Revised Code be 19 enacted to read as follows: 20 Sec. 124.823. (A) THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE 23 SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AS PART OF ANY 24 PACKAGE OF HEALTH CARE BENEFIT OPTIONS OFFERED TO STATE EMPLOYEES 25 WHO ARE PAID DIRECTLY BY WARRANT OF THE AUDITOR OF STATE, 26 INCLUDING ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 27 ESTABLISH THE ACCOUNTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS 3924.61 TO 28 3924.74 OF THE REVISED CODE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE BOTH 30 INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COVERAGE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS. 31 (B) A STATE EMPLOYEE WHO CHOOSES THE MEDICAL SAVINGS 34 ACCOUNT OPTION SHALL HAVE ANY STATE HEALTH, MEDICAL, HOSPITAL, 35 DENTAL, SURGICAL, AND VISION BENEFITS FOR WHICH THE EMPLOYEE IS 36 ELIGIBLE PROVIDED THROUGH THE MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THE 37 DEPARTMENT, UNDER SECTION 124.81 OR 124.82 OF THE REVISED CODE, 39 SHALL CONTRACT FOR OR OTHERWISE PROVIDE A HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE POLICY 40 OR CONTRACT THROUGH WHICH THOSE BENEFITS CAN BE PAID. PURSUANT 41 TO DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 3924.62 OF THE REVISED CODE, ALL STATE 43 EMPLOYEES CHOOSING THE MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT OPTION SHALL 44 PARTICIPATE IN THAT POLICY OR CONTRACT. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT THE 45 STATE PAYS FOR PREMIUMS UNDER THE POLICY OR CONTRACT FOR AN 46 2 EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE-HALF OF THE ANNUAL AMOUNT THE STATE 47 DEPOSITS TO THE EMPLOYEE'S MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THE AMOUNT 48 OF THE ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE UNDER THE POLICY OR CONTRACT FOR AN 49 EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE ANNUAL AMOUNT THE STATE 50 DEPOSITS TO THE EMPLOYEE'S MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. 51 (C) PURSUANT TO SECTION 3924.64 OF THE REVISED CODE, THE 54 DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGNATE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF A MEDICAL SAVINGS 55 ACCOUNT AT THE TIME THE ACCOUNT IS OPENED. HOWEVER, THE EMPLOYEE 56 FOR WHOM THE ACCOUNT IS OPENED MAY DESIGNATE A DIFFERENT 57 ADMINISTRATOR AT THAT TIME. IF THE EMPLOYEE DESIGNATES A 58 DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATOR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL OPEN THE ACCOUNT IN 59 ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATION. 60 Section 2. Section 124.823 of the Revised Code applies to 62 state employee benefits offered for fiscal years that begin on or 63 after July 1, 1997. 64