§ 56-7-2901. Short Title. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Access Tennessee Act of 2006.”
§ 56-7-2902. Part Definitions. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: “Access Tennessee” means the nonprofit entity created pursuant to § 56-7-2903(a); “Board” means the Access Tennessee board of directors established pursuant to § 56-7-2903(b); “Church plan” has the meaning given the term under ERISA, in 29 U.S.C. § 1002(33); “COBRA continuation coverage” refers to continuation […]
§ 56-7-2903. Creation of Access Tennessee Health Insurance Program — Board of Directors — Advisory Committee — Funding Plan and Plan of Operation — Promulgation of Rules — Errors and Omissions by Commissioner or Board Members. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
There is created a nonprofit entity known as Access Tennessee to operate a program to provide health insurance coverage pursuant to this part. The program shall be known as the Access Tennessee health insurance program. Access Tennessee shall operate the program subject to the supervision and control of a board of directors composed of fourteen […]
§ 56-7-2904. Powers and Authority. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
Access Tennessee has the general powers and authority granted under the laws of this state to insurance companies licensed to transact the kinds of insurance defined under § 56-2-201. In addition, Access Tennessee has the specific power to: Enter into contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of this […]
§ 56-7-2905. Annual Report. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
Beginning by October 1, 2007, Access Tennessee shall make an annual report to the governor and comptroller of the treasury, to be submitted by October 1 of each year. The report shall be in a form approved by the commissioner and shall summarize the activities of Access Tennessee in the preceding calendar year, including the […]
§ 56-7-2906. Additional Powers and Duties — Rules. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The commissioner may, by rule, establish additional powers and duties of Access Tennessee and may adopt rules necessary and proper to implement this part. The rules shall be promulgated as emergency rules pursuant to § 4-5-208. The rules shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
§ 56-7-2907. Audit. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The commissioner and the comptroller of the treasury have the authority to review and audit the expenditure of funds made under this part. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the commissioner to ensure that program expenditures are maintained within legislative appropriations.
§ 56-7-2908. Eligibility for Program — Unfair Practices. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
Eligibility for the program operated pursuant to this part shall be limited to citizens of the United States, except that individuals satisfying the federally defined exceptions contained in 8 U.S.C. § 1622(b) shall also be eligible to apply. A federally defined eligible individual who has not experienced a significant break in coverage and who is […]
§ 56-7-2909. Administration of the Program. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The board shall provide for administration of the program by electing, in its plan of operation, to have the program administered in either or both of the following manners: By the commissioner; or By using a competitive procurement process to select one (1) or more insurers or third party administrators to administer the program. If […]
§ 56-7-2910. Offering of Coverage Options — Exclusion of Charges and Expenses — Availability of Third Party Payment — Recovery of Ineligible Benefits Paid. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The program shall offer at least one (1) form of coverage to each eligible person. Coverage may be modeled after one (1) of the healthcare options offered to state employees pursuant to § 8-27-201, [repealed and reenacted; See Compiler’s Notes.] or may combine a health savings account with a high deductible health plan. Coverage may […]
§ 56-7-2911. Funding. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The program shall be funded in the manner set forth as follows: Premiums. The board shall establish premium rates for program coverage as provided in subdivision (1)(B). Separate schedules of premium rates based on age, tobacco use and weight may apply for individual risks. Premium rates and schedules shall be submitted to the commissioner for […]
§ 56-7-2912. Fraud and Abuse. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
The office of inspector general, created pursuant to § 71-5-2502, shall have the authority to investigate civil and criminal fraud and abuse of Access Tennessee, or any other violations of state criminal law related to the operation of the program. The powers of the office of inspector general set forth in §§ 71-5-2501 — 72-5-2512 […]
§ 56-7-2913. Federal Funding. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, if the state determines not to apply for or accept federal funding for the purposes of this part, any provisions of this part, including any eligibility requirements regarding federally defined eligible individuals as set forth in § 56-7-2908 of this part, would not be subject to nor would the […]
§ 56-7-2914. Legislative Review. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
This part shall be reviewed annually by the commerce and labor committee of the senate, the insurance committee of the house of representatives, the finance, ways and means committee of the senate and the finance, ways and means committee of the house of representatives, and these committees shall recommend necessary changes to the governor and […]
§ 56-7-2916. Repealer. [Effective Until June 30, 2025. See the Compiler’s notes.]
This part shall be repealed on June 30, 2025.