HB 191

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to health and human services contracts;
3establishing the Health and Human Services Contract
4Resource Center to be administratively housed in the
5Department of Management Services; providing the center's
6duties; establishing a board of trustees composed of
7certain agency heads; providing for an executive director
8appointed by the Governor; providing for implementation by
9a certain date; amending s. 287.057, F.S.; exempting
10services provided by an eligible lead community-based
11provider from being subject to the state competitive
12bidding process; amending ss. 402.7305 and 427.0135, F.S.;
13conforming cross-references; reenacting s. 287.058(5),
14F.S., relating to contract documents for the procurement
15of specified contractual services, to incorporate the
16amendment made to s. 287.057, F.S., in a reference
17thereto; reenacting s. 627.311(5)(c), F.S., relating to
18joint underwriters and joint reinsurers, to incorporate
19the amendment made to s. 287.057, F.S., in a reference
20thereto; reenacting s. 627.351(6)(e), F.S., relating to
21the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, to
22incorporate the amendment made to s. 287.057, F.S., in a
23reference thereto; providing an effective date.
24
25Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27     Section 1.  Health and Human Services Contract Resource
28Center.-The Health and Human Services Contract Resource Center
29is created and housed for administrative purposes only in the
30Department of Management Services. The Legislature intends that
31the center serve as a single, consolidated unit for the
32administrative and fiscal contract management of health and
33human services outsourced by the Department of Children and
34Family Services, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the
35Department of Health, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities,
36the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Agency for Health
37Care Administration.
38     (1)  CENTER DUTIES.-The center shall:
39     (a)  Serve as the lead state agency for all administrative
40and fiscal matters related to health and human services
41contracts.
42     (b)  Provide administrative and fiscal monitoring
43activities in coordination with the agency responsible for the
44program components related to the services provided by the
45health and human services contract.
46     (c)  Establish administrative and fiscal performance
47standards for vendors providing health and human services. The
48standards shall be used in contract monitoring and as part of
49each agency's evaluation of competitive bids for health and
50human services.
51     (d)  Develop uniform policies, contract administrative
52requirements, and monitoring protocols related to the
53administrative and fiscal requirements of vendors providing
54health and human services.
55     (e)  Establish or arrange for the establishment of a
56consolidated data warehouse and archive to maintain the
57corporate, fiscal, and administrative records of health and
58human services vendors. The center shall ensure that this data
59is up to date and accessible to other agencies, participating
60vendors, and the general public through web-based technology.
61The records may include, but need not be limited to:
62     1.  Articles of incorporation.
63     2.  Bylaws.
64     3.  Governing board and committee meeting minutes.
65     4.  Financial audits.
66     5.  Organizational charts.
67     (f)  Manage the administrative and fiscal data in a manner
68that allows contract information to be aggregated and assessed
69to determine the amount, value, and achievement of
70administrative standards by vendor, by agency, and by type of
71service.
72     (g)  Establish a consolidated schedule for site visits to
73monitor and evaluate the administrative and fiscal compliance of
74vendors providing health and human services. The center shall
75facilitate joint site visits with agency program staff whenever
76possible.
77     (h)  Create an enterprise that allows nonstate agencies to
78purchase center services. Eligible buyers include, but are not
79limited to, local governments, nongovernmental organizations,
80and vendors that have contracts for health and human services
81with other local service agencies or organizations.
82     (2)  BOARD OF TRUSTEES.-
83     (a)  The center shall be governed by a board of trustees
84consisting of the agency heads, or designees, of the Department
85of Children and Family Services, the Department of Health, the
86Department of Elderly Affairs, the Agency for Persons with
87Disabilities, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Agency
88for Health Care Administration. The chair of the board shall be
89appointed by the Governor from the participating agency heads.
90     (b)  The board shall approve an annual work program and
91business plan, review and approve center policies, and establish
92a mechanism for receiving and evaluating feedback from health
93and human services vendors.
94     (3)  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.-The Governor shall appoint an
95executive director of the center. The executive director must
96have a graduate degree from an accredited institution and at
97least 7 years of executive-level experience.
98     (4)  IMPLEMENTATION.-The activities of the center shall be
99phased in beginning with children's services contracts of the
100Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of
101Health. Other agency contracts shall be incorporated into the
102center's management protocols in accordance with a schedule
103developed by the board of trustees and approved by the
104Legislative Budget Commission. However, the phasing in of all
105agency contracts must be completed by June 30, 2011.
106     Section 2.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
107287.057, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
108     287.057  Procurement of commodities or contractual
109services.-
110     (3)  When the purchase price of commodities or contractual
111services exceeds the threshold amount provided in s. 287.017 for
112CATEGORY TWO, no purchase of commodities or contractual services
113may be made without receiving competitive sealed bids,
114competitive sealed proposals, or competitive sealed replies
115unless:
116     (f)  The purchase is for any of the following contractual
117services and commodities are not subject to the competitive-
118solicitation requirements of this section:
119     1.  Artistic services. For the purposes of this subsection,
120the term "artistic services" does not include advertising or
121typesetting. As used in this subparagraph, the term
122"advertising" means the making of a representation in any form
123in connection with a trade, business, craft, or profession in
124order to promote the supply of commodities or services by the
125person promoting the commodities or contractual services.
126     2.  Academic program reviews if the fee for such services
127does not exceed $50,000.
128     3.  Lectures by individuals.
129     4.  Legal services, including attorney, paralegal, expert
130witness, appraisal, or mediator services.
131     5.a.  Health services involving examination, diagnosis,
132treatment, prevention, medical consultation, or administration.
133     b.  Beginning January 1, 2011, health services, include
134including, but are not limited to, substance abuse and mental
135health services, involving examination, diagnosis, treatment,
136prevention, or medical consultation, if when such services are
137offered to eligible individuals participating in a specific
138program that qualifies multiple providers and uses a standard
139payment methodology. Reimbursement for the of administrative
140costs of for providers of services purchased in this manner are
141shall also be exempt. For purposes of this subparagraph sub-
142subparagraph, the term "providers" means health professionals,
143health facilities, or organizations that deliver or arrange for
144the delivery of health services.
145     6.  Services provided to persons with mental or physical
146disabilities by not-for-profit corporations which have obtained
147exemptions under the provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the United
148States Internal Revenue Code or when such services are governed
149by the provisions of Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
150122. However, in acquiring such services, the agency shall
151consider the ability of the vendor, past performance,
152willingness to meet time requirements, and price.
153     7.  Medicaid services delivered to an eligible Medicaid
154recipient unless the agency is directed otherwise by in law.
155     8.  Family placement services.
156     9.  Services provided by an eligible lead community-based
157provider as described in s. 409.1671(1)(e) currently under
158contract with the Department of Children and Family Services and
159in compliance with the department's performance, fiscal, and
160administrative standards.
161     10.9.  Prevention services related to mental health,
162including drug abuse prevention programs, child abuse prevention
163programs, and shelters for runaways, operated by not-for-profit
164corporations. However, in acquiring such services, the agency
165must shall consider the ability of the vendor, past performance,
166willingness to meet time requirements, and price.
167     11.10.  Training and education services provided to injured
168employees pursuant to s. 440.491(6).
169     12.11.  Contracts entered into pursuant to s. 337.11.
170     13.12.  Services or commodities provided by governmental
171agencies.
172     Section 3.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
173402.7305, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
174     402.7305  Department of Children and Family Services;
175procurement of contractual services; contract management.-
176     (2)  PROCUREMENT OF COMMODITIES AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.-
177     (a)  Notwithstanding s. 287.057(3)(f)13.12., whenever the
178department intends to contract with a public postsecondary
179institution to provide a service, the department must allow all
180public postsecondary institutions in this state that are
181accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
182to bid on the contract. Thereafter, notwithstanding any other
183provision to the contrary, if a public postsecondary institution
184intends to subcontract for any service awarded in the contract,
185the subcontracted service must be procured by competitive
186procedures.
187     Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 427.0135, Florida
188Statutes, is amended to read:
189     427.0135  Purchasing agencies; duties and
190responsibilities.-Each purchasing agency, in carrying out the
191policies and procedures of the commission, shall:
192     (3)  Not procure transportation disadvantaged services
193without initially negotiating with the commission, as provided
194in s. 287.057(3)(f)13.12., or unless otherwise authorized by
195statute. If the purchasing agency, after consultation with the
196commission, determines that it cannot reach mutually acceptable
197contract terms with the commission, the purchasing agency may
198contract for the same transportation services provided in a more
199cost-effective manner and of comparable or higher quality and
200standards. The Medicaid agency shall implement this subsection
201in a manner consistent with s. 409.908(18) and as otherwise
202limited or directed by the General Appropriations Act.
203     Section 5.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
204made by this act to section 287.057, Florida Statutes, in a
205reference thereto, subsection (5) of section 287.058, Florida
206Statutes, is reenacted to read:
207     287.058  Contract document.-
208     (5)  Unless otherwise provided in the General
209Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing the
210General Appropriations Act, the Chief Financial Officer may
211waive the requirements of this section for services which are
212included in s. 287.057(3)(f).
213     Section 6.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
214made by this act to section 287.057, Florida Statutes, in a
215reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
216627.311, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
217     627.311  Joint underwriters and joint reinsurers; public
218records and public meetings exemptions.-
219     (5)
220     (c)  The operation of the plan shall be governed by a plan
221of operation that is prepared at the direction of the board of
222governors and approved by order of the office. The plan is
223subject to continuous review by the office. The office may, by
224order, withdraw approval of all or part of a plan if the office
225determines that conditions have changed since approval was
226granted and that the purposes of the plan require changes in the
227plan. The plan of operation shall:
228     1.  Authorize the board to engage in the activities
229necessary to implement this subsection, including, but not
230limited to, borrowing money.
231     2.  Develop criteria for eligibility for coverage by the
232plan, including, but not limited to, documented rejection by at
233least two insurers which reasonably assures that insureds
234covered under the plan are unable to acquire coverage in the
235voluntary market.
236     3.  Require notice from the agent to the insured at the
237time of the application for coverage that the application is for
238coverage with the plan and that coverage may be available
239through an insurer, group self-insurers' fund, commercial self-
240insurance fund, or assessable mutual insurer through another
241agent at a lower cost.
242     4.  Establish programs to encourage insurers to provide
243coverage to applicants of the plan in the voluntary market and
244to insureds of the plan, including, but not limited to:
245     a.  Establishing procedures for an insurer to use in
246notifying the plan of the insurer's desire to provide coverage
247to applicants to the plan or existing insureds of the plan and
248in describing the types of risks in which the insurer is
249interested. The description of the desired risks must be on a
250form developed by the plan.
251     b.  Developing forms and procedures that provide an insurer
252with the information necessary to determine whether the insurer
253wants to write particular applicants to the plan or insureds of
254the plan.
255     c.  Developing procedures for notice to the plan and the
256applicant to the plan or insured of the plan that an insurer
257will insure the applicant or the insured of the plan, and notice
258of the cost of the coverage offered; and developing procedures
259for the selection of an insuring entity by the applicant or
260insured of the plan.
261     d.  Provide for a market-assistance plan to assist in the
262placement of employers. All applications for coverage in the
263plan received 45 days before the effective date for coverage
264shall be processed through the market-assistance plan. A market-
265assistance plan specifically designed to serve the needs of
266small, good policyholders as defined by the board must be
267reviewed and updated periodically.
268     5.  Provide for policy and claims services to the insureds
269of the plan of the nature and quality provided for insureds in
270the voluntary market.
271     6.  Provide for the review of applications for coverage
272with the plan for reasonableness and accuracy, using any
273available historic information regarding the insured.
274     7.  Provide for procedures for auditing insureds of the
275plan which are based on reasonable business judgment and are
276designed to maximize the likelihood that the plan will collect
277the appropriate premiums.
278     8.  Authorize the plan to terminate the coverage of and
279refuse future coverage for any insured that submits a fraudulent
280application to the plan or provides fraudulent or grossly
281erroneous records to the plan or to any service provider of the
282plan in conjunction with the activities of the plan.
283     9.  Establish service standards for agents who submit
284business to the plan.
285     10.  Establish criteria and procedures to prohibit any
286agent who does not adhere to the established service standards
287from placing business with the plan or receiving, directly or
288indirectly, any commissions for business placed with the plan.
289     11.  Provide for the establishment of reasonable safety
290programs for all insureds in the plan. All insureds of the plan
291must participate in the safety program.
292     12.  Authorize the plan to terminate the coverage of and
293refuse future coverage to any insured who fails to pay premiums
294or surcharges when due; who, at the time of application, is
295delinquent in payments of workers' compensation or employer's
296liability insurance premiums or surcharges owed to an insurer,
297group self-insurers' fund, commercial self-insurance fund, or
298assessable mutual insurer licensed to write such coverage in
299this state; or who refuses to substantially comply with any
300safety programs recommended by the plan.
301     13.  Authorize the board of governors to provide the goods
302and services required by the plan through staff employed by the
303plan, through reasonably compensated service providers who
304contract with the plan to provide services as specified by the
305board of governors, or through a combination of employees and
306service providers.
307     a.  Purchases that equal or exceed $2,500 but are less than
308or equal to $25,000, shall be made by receipt of written quotes,
309telephone quotes, or informal bids, whenever practical. The
310procurement of goods or services valued over $25,000 is subject
311to competitive solicitation, except in situations in which the
312goods or services are provided by a sole source or are deemed an
313emergency purchase, or the services are exempted from
314competitive-solicitation requirements under s. 287.057(3)(f).
315Justification for the sole-sourcing or emergency procurement
316must be documented. Contracts for goods or services valued at or
317over $100,000 are subject to board approval.
318     b.  The board shall determine whether it is more cost-
319effective and in the best interests of the plan to use legal
320services provided by in-house attorneys employed by the plan
321rather than contracting with outside counsel. In making such
322determination, the board shall document its findings and shall
323consider the expertise needed; whether time commitments exceed
324in-house staff resources; whether local representation is
325needed; the travel, lodging, and other costs associated with in-
326house representation; and such other factors that the board
327determines are relevant.
328     14.  Provide for service standards for service providers,
329methods of determining adherence to those service standards,
330incentives and disincentives for service, and procedures for
331terminating contracts for service providers that fail to adhere
332to service standards.
333     15.  Provide procedures for selecting service providers and
334standards for qualification as a service provider that
335reasonably assure that any service provider selected will
336continue to operate as an ongoing concern and is capable of
337providing the specified services in the manner required.
338     16.  Provide for reasonable accounting and data-reporting
339practices.
340     17.  Provide for annual review of costs associated with the
341administration and servicing of the policies issued by the plan
342to determine alternatives by which costs can be reduced.
343     18.  Authorize the acquisition of such excess insurance or
344reinsurance as is consistent with the purposes of the plan.
345     19.  Provide for an annual report to the office on a date
346specified by the office and containing such information as the
347office reasonably requires.
348     20.  Establish multiple rating plans for various
349classifications of risk which reflect risk of loss, hazard
350grade, actual losses, size of premium, and compliance with loss
351control. At least one of such plans must be a preferred-rating
352plan to accommodate small-premium policyholders with good
353experience as defined in sub-subparagraph 22.a.
354     21.  Establish agent commission schedules.
355     22.  For employers otherwise eligible for coverage under
356the plan, establish three tiers of employers meeting the
357criteria and subject to the rate limitations specified in this
358subparagraph.
359     a.  Tier One.-
360     (I)  Criteria; rated employers.-An employer that has an
361experience modification rating shall be included in Tier One if
362the employer meets all of the following:
363     (A)  The experience modification is below 1.00.
364     (B)  The employer had no lost-time claims subsequent to the
365applicable experience modification rating period.
366     (C)  The total of the employer's medical-only claims
367subsequent to the applicable experience modification rating
368period did not exceed 20 percent of premium.
369     (II)  Criteria; non-rated employers.-An employer that does
370not have an experience modification rating shall be included in
371Tier One if the employer meets all of the following:
372     (A)  The employer had no lost-time claims for the 3-year
373period immediately preceding the inception date or renewal date
374of the employer's coverage under the plan.
375     (B)  The total of the employer's medical-only claims for
376the 3-year period immediately preceding the inception date or
377renewal date of the employer's coverage under the plan did not
378exceed 20 percent of premium.
379     (C)  The employer has secured workers' compensation
380coverage for the entire 3-year period immediately preceding the
381inception date or renewal date of the employer's coverage under
382the plan.
383     (D)  The employer is able to provide the plan with a loss
384history generated by the employer's prior workers' compensation
385insurer, except if the employer is not able to produce a loss
386history due to the insolvency of an insurer, the receiver shall
387provide to the plan, upon the request of the employer or the
388employer's agent, a copy of the employer's loss history from the
389records of the insolvent insurer if the loss history is
390contained in records of the insurer which are in the possession
391of the receiver. If the receiver is unable to produce the loss
392history, the employer may, in lieu of the loss history, submit
393an affidavit from the employer and the employer's insurance
394agent setting forth the loss history.
395     (E)  The employer is not a new business.
396     (III)  Premiums.-The premiums for Tier One insureds shall
397be set at a premium level 25 percent above the comparable
398voluntary market premiums until the plan has sufficient
399experience as determined by the board to establish an
400actuarially sound rate for Tier One, at which point the board
401shall, subject to paragraph (e), adjust the rates, if necessary,
402to produce actuarially sound rates, provided such rate
403adjustment shall not take effect prior to January 1, 2007.
404     b.  Tier Two.-
405     (I)  Criteria; rated employers.-An employer that has an
406experience modification rating shall be included in Tier Two if
407the employer meets all of the following:
408     (A)  The experience modification is equal to or greater
409than 1.00 but not greater than 1.10.
410     (B)  The employer had no lost-time claims subsequent to the
411applicable experience modification rating period.
412     (C)  The total of the employer's medical-only claims
413subsequent to the applicable experience modification rating
414period did not exceed 20 percent of premium.
415     (II)  Criteria; non-rated employers.-An employer that does
416not have any experience modification rating shall be included in
417Tier Two if the employer is a new business. An employer shall be
418included in Tier Two if the employer has less than 3 years of
419loss experience in the 3-year period immediately preceding the
420inception date or renewal date of the employer's coverage under
421the plan and the employer meets all of the following:
422     (A)  The employer had no lost-time claims for the 3-year
423period immediately preceding the inception date or renewal date
424of the employer's coverage under the plan.
425     (B)  The total of the employer's medical-only claims for
426the 3-year period immediately preceding the inception date or
427renewal date of the employer's coverage under the plan did not
428exceed 20 percent of premium.
429     (C)  The employer is able to provide the plan with a loss
430history generated by the workers' compensation insurer that
431provided coverage for the portion or portions of such period
432during which the employer had secured workers' compensation
433coverage, except if the employer is not able to produce a loss
434history due to the insolvency of an insurer, the receiver shall
435provide to the plan, upon the request of the employer or the
436employer's agent, a copy of the employer's loss history from the
437records of the insolvent insurer if the loss history is
438contained in records of the insurer which are in the possession
439of the receiver. If the receiver is unable to produce the loss
440history, the employer may, in lieu of the loss history, submit
441an affidavit from the employer and the employer's insurance
442agent setting forth the loss history.
443     (III)  Premiums.-The premiums for Tier Two insureds shall
444be set at a rate level 50 percent above the comparable voluntary
445market premiums until the plan has sufficient experience as
446determined by the board to establish an actuarially sound rate
447for Tier Two, at which point the board shall, subject to
448paragraph (e), adjust the rates, if necessary, to produce
449actuarially sound rates, provided such rate adjustment shall not
450take effect prior to January 1, 2007.
451     c.  Tier Three.-
452     (I)  Eligibility.-An employer shall be included in Tier
453Three if the employer does not meet the criteria for Tier One or
454Tier Two.
455     (II)  Rates.-The board shall establish, subject to
456paragraph (e), and the plan shall charge, actuarially sound
457rates for Tier Three insureds.
458     23.  For Tier One or Tier Two employers which employ no
459nonexempt employees or which report payroll which is less than
460the minimum wage hourly rate for one full-time employee for 1
461year at 40 hours per week, the plan shall establish actuarially
462sound premiums, provided, however, that the premiums may not
463exceed $2,500. These premiums shall be in addition to the fee
464specified in subparagraph 26. When the plan establishes
465actuarially sound rates for all employers in Tier One and Tier
466Two, the premiums for employers referred to in this paragraph
467are no longer subject to the $2,500 cap.
468     24.  Provide for a depopulation program to reduce the
469number of insureds in the plan. If an employer insured through
470the plan is offered coverage from a voluntary market carrier:
471     a.  During the first 30 days of coverage under the plan;
472     b.  Before a policy is issued under the plan;
473     c.  By issuance of a policy upon expiration or cancellation
474of the policy under the plan; or
475     d.  By assumption of the plan's obligation with respect to
476an in-force policy,
477
478that employer is no longer eligible for coverage through the
479plan. The premium for risks assumed by the voluntary market
480carrier must be no greater than the premium the insured would
481have paid under the plan, and shall be adjusted upon renewal to
482reflect changes in the plan rates and the tier for which the
483insured would qualify as of the time of renewal. The insured may
484be charged such premiums only for the first 3 years of coverage
485in the voluntary market. A premium under this subparagraph is
486deemed approved and is not an excess premium for purposes of s.
487627.171.
488     25.  Require that policies issued and applications must
489include a notice that the policy could be replaced by a policy
490issued from a voluntary market carrier and that, if an offer of
491coverage is obtained from a voluntary market carrier, the
492policyholder is no longer eligible for coverage through the
493plan. The notice must also specify that acceptance of coverage
494under the plan creates a conclusive presumption that the
495applicant or policyholder is aware of this potential.
496     26.  Require that each application for coverage and each
497renewal premium be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $475 to
498cover costs of administration and fraud prevention. The board
499may, with the prior approval of the office, increase the amount
500of the fee pursuant to a rate filing to reflect increased costs
501of administration and fraud prevention. The fee is not subject
502to commission and is fully earned upon commencement of coverage.
503     Section 7.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
504made by this act to section 287.057, Florida Statutes, in a
505reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (6) of section
506627.351, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
507     627.351  Insurance risk apportionment plans.-
508     (6)  CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.-
509     (e)  Purchases that equal or exceed $2,500, but are less
510than $25,000, shall be made by receipt of written quotes,
511written record of telephone quotes, or informal bids, whenever
512practical. The procurement of goods or services valued at or
513over $25,000 shall be subject to competitive solicitation,
514except in situations where the goods or services are provided by
515a sole source or are deemed an emergency purchase; the services
516are exempted from competitive solicitation requirements under s.
517287.057(3)(f); or the procurement of services is subject to s.
518627.3513. Justification for the sole-sourcing or emergency
519procurement must be documented. Contracts for goods or services
520valued at or over $100,000 are subject to approval by the board.
521     Section 8.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.