Tennessee Rate Review Grants Award List

Cycle I Grant Application Summary

Tennessee Grantee: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Award Date: August 16, 2010
Award Amount: $1,000,000

• Pursue Additional Legislative Authority: Tennessee requires prior approval of individual health insurance premiums only. Grant funding will be used to develop language to expand review and to provide authority to disapprove submitted health insurance premiums.
• Expand the Scope of the Review Process: The State will expand requirements to include both small and large group findings.
• Improve the Review Process: Currently the State requires prior approval of individual rates only. Grant funds will be used for improvements to information systems and electronic data capture.
• Increase Transparency and Accessibility: Currently the department provides access to health insurance premium filings upon request and posts a spreadsheet on its website displaying changes. Grant funds will be used to hold monthly public hearings and consumer meetings, as well as publish information on the web.
• Develop and Upgrade Technology: Tennessee will support electronic collection of premium-related information, the electronic analysis of that information, and the publication of appropriate premium-related information and establish a data center to compile and publish fee schedule information.

Cycle II Grant Application Summary

Tennessee Grantee: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Award Date: September 20, 2011
Total Award: $3,979,002
Baseline Award: $3,000,000
Workload Award Amount: $379,002
Performance Award Amount: $600,000

• Introduce legislation: Tennessee will review existing and new laws, legislative development, forms development. The State will consider further legislation and regulations to improve its rate review process.
• Expand scope of rate review: With the help of Cycle I grant funds Tennessee gained prior approval authority in the small group market. Cycle II funding will help support this expanded authority.
• Improve rate filing requirements: Tennessee will continue to support its All Payer Claims Database (APCD) and make infrastructure improvements to use additional data in reviewing rates.
• Improve transparency and consumer interfaces: Tennessee will add a public comment capability on its website.
• Hire new staff: Tennessee will provide training to staff and propose an internship program.
• Improve IT: Tennessee is proposing to utilize cutting-edge software for actuary use in modeling and benchmarking.
  

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