Section 230-RICR-20-30-10.1 - Statement of Authority and PurposeA. This regulation is promulgated pursuant to the authority granted to the health insurance commissioner under R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 27-19-6, 27-20-6, 27-50-1 et seq., 42-14-5, 42-14-17, 42- 14.5-1 et seq., 42-62-12, and 42-62-13.B. This regulation is intended to implement the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 27-50, the "Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act" (the "Act"). The purpose of the Act and this regulation is to provide for the availability of health insurance coverage to small employers and their employees and employees' dependents, regardless of health status or claims experience; to regulate insurer rating practices and establish limits on differences in rates between health benefit plans; to provide for uniform annual filing requirements by carriers participating in the small group health insurance market; to ensure renewability of coverage; to establish limitations on underwriting practices, eligibility requirements and the use of preexisting condition exclusions; to direct the basis of market competition away from risk selection and toward the efficient management of health care; to provide for the availability of a wellness health benefit plan; to clarify the rules regarding the availability of individual health insurance policies to self-employed individuals and to improve the overall fairness and efficiency of the small group health insurance market.C. The Act and this regulation are intended to promote broader spreading of risk in the small employer marketplace and to regulate all health benefit plans sold to small employers, whether sold directly or through associations or other groupings of small employers. Carriers that provide health benefit plans to small employers are intended to be subject to all of the provisions of the Act and this regulation.230 R.I. Code R. 230-RICR-20-30-10.1