ENGROSSED

Senate Bill No. 702


____________

[Originating in the Committee on Finance;

reported March 3, 1999.]

_____________


A BILL to amend and reenact sections two, four, five, nine, twelve and twenty-four, article sixteen, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended; and to further amend said article by adding thereto two new sections, designated sections twelve-a and twelve-b, all relating to the West Virginia public employees insurance act; defining terms; increasing the membership of the finance board; providing for appointment of the new members; revising requirements regarding preparation of annual financial plans and long-range plans; realigning duties of the finance board and the actuary; changing time of submission for revenue estimates; requiring submission of prospective financial plan; removing requirement that types and levels of costs to employers, employees and retired employees in effect remain in effect; providing criminal penalties for knowingly obtaining benefits, payments or anything of value to which the person is not entitled or greater than those to which the person is entitled; authorizing the director to refer instances of suspected or potential fraud and abuse to the insurance commissioner for investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution; providing penalties for violations not otherwise specifically provided; authorizing the director to negotiate and contract directly with health care providers; providing immunity for reporting fraudulent activities; and limiting those retirees who are eligible for subsidized insurance.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections two, four, five, nine, twelve, and twenty-four, article sixteen, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said article be further amended by adding thereto a two new sections, designated sections twelve-a and twelve- b, all to read as follows:
 ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT.
 §5-16-2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this article, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context, have the following meanings:
(1) "Advisory board" means the public employees insurance agency advisory board created by this article.
(2)(1) "Agency" means the public employees insurance agency created by this article.
(3)(2) "Director" means the director of the public employees insurance agency created by this article.
(4)(3) "Employee" means any person, including elected officers, who works regularly full time in the service of the state of West Virginia and, for the purpose of this article only, the term "employee" also means any person, including elected officers, who works regularly full time in the service of a county board of education; a county, city or town in the state; any separate corporation or instrumentality established by one or more counties, cities or towns, as permitted by law; any corporation or instrumentality supported in most part by counties, cities or towns; any public corporation charged by law with the performance of a governmental function and whose jurisdiction is coextensive with one or more counties, cities or towns; any comprehensive community mental health center or comprehensive mental retardation facility established, operated or licensed by the secretary of health and human resources pursuant to section one, article two-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code, and which is supported in part by state, county or municipal funds; any person who works regularly full time in the service of the university of West Virginia board of trustees or the board of directors of the state college system; and any person who works regularly full time in the service of a combined city-county health department created pursuant to article two, chapter sixteen of this code. On and after the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four, and upon election by a county board of education to allow elected board members to participate in the public employees insurance program pursuant to this article, any person elected to a county board of education shall be deemed to be an "employee" during the term of office of the elected member: Provided, That the elected member shall pay the entire cost of the premium if he or she elects to be covered under this article. Any matters of doubt as to who is an employee within the meaning of this article shall be decided by the director.
On or after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, a person shall be considered an "employee" if that person meets the following criteria:
(i) Participates in a job-sharing arrangement as defined in section one, article one, chapter eighteen-a of this code;
(ii) Has been designated, in writing, by all other participants in that job-sharing arrangement as the "employee" for purposes of this section; and
(iii) Works at least one third of the time required for a full-time employee.
(5)(4) "Employer" means the state of West Virginia, its boards, agencies, commissions, departments, institutions or spending units; a county board of education; a county, city or town in the state; any separate corporation or instrumentality established by one or more counties, cities or towns, as permitted by law; any corporation or instrumentality supported in most part by counties, cities or towns; any public corporation charged by law with the performance of a governmental function and whose jurisdiction is coextensive with one or more counties, cities or towns; any comprehensive community mental health center or comprehensive mental retardation facility established, operated or licensed by the secretary of health and human resources pursuant to section one, article two-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code, and which is supported in part by state, county or municipal funds; and a combined city-county health department created pursuant to article two, chapter sixteen of this code. Any matters of doubt as to who is an "employer" within the meaning of this article shall be decided by the director. The term "employer" does not include within its meaning the national guard.
(6)(5) "Finance board" means the public employees insurance agency finance board created by this article.
(7)(6) "Plan" means the medical indemnity plan or a managed care plan option offered by the agency.
(8)(7) "Retired employee" means an employee of the state who retired after the twenty-ninth day of April, one thousand nine hundred seventy-one, and an employee of the university of West Virginia board of trustees or the board of directors of the state college system or a county board of education who retires on or after the twenty-first day of April, one thousand nine hundred seventy-two, and all additional eligible employees who retire on or after the effective date of this article, and meet the minimum eligibility requirements for their respective state retirement system and whose last employer immediately prior to retirement under the state retirement system is a participating employer: Provided, That for the purposes of this article, the employees who are not covered by a state retirement system shall, in the case of education employees, meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the state teachers retirement system, and in all other cases, meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the public employees retirement system.
§5-16-4. Public employees insurance agency finance board created; qualifications, terms and removal of members; quorum; compensation and expenses; termination date.

(a) There is hereby created continued the public employees insurance agency finance board, which shall consist consists of the director and four six members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for terms of four years and until the appointment of their successors: Provided, That the members initially appointed by the governor shall be appointed not later than the tenth day of September, one thousand nine hundred ninety, and may serve and may perform the duties required by this article until such time as the Senate may convene to give its advice and consent. Of the members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for two years, one for three years and one for four years. of the two members added to the board by the amendment of this section, enacted during the regular legislative session, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, the at-large member shall be appointed for an initial term of two years and the member representing organized labor shall be appointed for a term of four years. Members may be reappointed for successive terms. No more than three four members (including the director) may be of the same political party.
(b) Of the four six members appointed by the governor, one member shall represent the interests of education employees, one shall represent the interests of public employees, one shall represent the interests of organized labor and two three shall be selected from the public at large. The governor shall appoint the member representing the interests of education employees from a list of three names submitted by the largest organization of education employees in this state. The governor shall appoint the member representing the interests of organized labor from a list of three names submitted by the state's largest organization representing labor affiliates. The two three members appointed from the public shall each have experience in the financing, development or management of employee benefit programs. All new appointments made subsequent to after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four, shall be selected to represent the different geographical areas within the state and all members shall be residents of West Virginia. No member may be removed from office by the governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, neglect of fiduciary duty or other specific responsibility imposed by this article, or gross immorality.
(c) The director shall serve as chairperson of the finance board, which shall meet at such time and place as shall be times and places specified by the call of the director or upon the written request to the director of at least two members. Notice of each meeting shall be given in writing to each member by the director at least three days in advance of the meeting. Three Four members shall constitute constitutes a quorum. The board shall pay each member the same compensation and expense reimbursement as is paid to members of the Legislature for their interim duties, as recommended by the citizens legislative compensation commission and authorized by law for each day or portion thereof of a day engaged in the discharge of official duties.
(d) Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the finance board shall terminate on the first day of July, two thousand one, unless extended by legislation enacted before the termination date.
(e) Upon termination of the board and notwithstanding any provisions in this article to the contrary, the director is authorized to assess monthly employee premium contributions and to change the types and levels of costs to employees only in accordance with this subsection. Any assessments or changes in costs imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be implemented by legislative rule rules and regulations of the director promulgated proposed by the director for promulgation pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code; any employee assessments or costs previously authorized by the finance board shall then remain in effect until amended by rule or regulation of the director promulgated pursuant to this subsection.
§5-16-5. Purpose, powers and duties of the finance board; initial financial plan; financial plan for following year; and annual financial plans.
(a) The purpose of the finance board created by this article is to bring fiscal stability to the public employees insurance agency through development of an annual financial plan plans and long-range plans designed to meet the agency's estimated total financial requirements, taking into account all revenues projected to be made available to the agency, and apportioning necessary costs equitably among participating employers, employees and retired employees and providers of health care services.
(b) The finance board shall retain the services of an impartial, professional actuary, with demonstrated experience in analysis of large group health insurance plans, to estimate the total financial requirements of the public employees insurance agency for each fiscal year and to review and render written professional opinions as to financial plans proposed by the finance board. The finance board actuary shall also employ the actuary to develop also assist in the development of alternative financing options and to perform such any other services as may be requested by the finance board or the director. All reasonable fees and expenses for actuarial services shall be paid by the public employees insurance agency. Any financial plan or modifications to a financial plan approved or proposed by the finance board pursuant to this section shall be submitted to and reviewed by the actuary, and may not be finally approved and submitted to the governor and to the Legislature without the actuary's written professional opinion that the plan may be reasonably expected to generate sufficient revenues to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the agency, excluding including incurred but unreported claims, for the fiscal year for which the plan is proposed. The actuary's opinion on the initial plan required by subsection (d) of this section shall allow for a target of forty-five days of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. The actuary's opinion on the financial plan for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-two shall allow for between thirty and forty-five days of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. The actuary's opinion on the financial plan for any succeeding each fiscal year shall allow for no more than thirty days of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. The actuary's opinion for any fiscal year shall not include a requirement for establishment of a reserve fund.
(c) All financial plans required by this section shall include the design of a benefit plan or plans. All financial plans required by this section shall establish:
(1) Maximum levels of reimbursement which the public employees insurance agency makes to categories of health care providers;
(2) Any necessary cost containment measures for implementation by the director;
(3) The levels of premium costs to participating employers; and
(4) The types and levels of cost to participating employees and retired employees.
The financial plans may provide for different levels of costs based on the insureds' ability to pay. The finance board may establish different levels of costs to retired employees based upon length of employment with a participating employer, ability to pay, or other relevant factors. The financial plans may also include optional alternative benefit plans with alternative types and levels of cost. The finance board may develop policies which encourage the use of West Virginia health care providers.
In addition, the finance board may allocate a portion of the premium costs charged to participating employers to subsidize the cost of coverage for participating retired employees, on such terms as the finance board determines are equitable and financially responsible.
(d) Initial plan. -- The director shall convene the first meeting of the finance board no later than the fifteenth day of September, one thousand nine hundred ninety. For presentation by the director at the first meeting, the governor shall prepare an estimate of the total amount of general and special revenues which the state has or will have available to fund the public employees insurance agency and its programs for the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one.
Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, during any meeting authorized by subsection (h) of this section to review implementation of the initial financial plan in light of actual experience, the finance board, in its discretion, may elect to redesign the initial financial plan so that revenues generated will meet all incurred and projected program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency by the end of the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, rather than by the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one. Before implementing any such modifications, the finance board shall obtain a written professional opinion from its actuary stating that the modified plan may be reasonably expected to generate sufficient revenues to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the remainder of fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-one and for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, allowing for between thirty and forty-five days of accounts payable to be carried over into fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-three. The finance board shall also afford interested and affected persons an opportunity to offer comment on the modified plan at a public meeting of the finance board. Regardless of whether or not the finance board modifies the initial financial plan as authorized by this subsection, the finance board shall prepare a financial plan for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-two in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.
The finance board shall prepare, no later than the tenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred ninety, a proposed financial plan designed to generate revenues sufficient to meet all program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency which have already been incurred but are unpaid, or which the actuary estimates will be incurred and paid during the remainder of fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-one, excluding incurred but unreported claims. The finance board shall establish in the proposed financial plan a target of forty-five days of accounts payable which may be carried over into the next fiscal year.
The finance board shall request its actuary to review the proposed financial plan and to render a written professional opinion stating whether the plan may be reasonably expected to generate sufficient revenues to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year. The actuary's report shall explain the basis of his or her opinion. If the actuary concludes that the proposed financial plan will not generate sufficient revenues to meet all anticipated costs, then the finance board shall make necessary modifications to the proposed plan to ensure that all actuarially- determined financial requirements of the agency will be met.
Upon obtaining the actuary's opinion and making all necessary modifications to the proposed plan, the finance board shall conduct two or more public hearings to receive public comment on the proposed financial plan, shall review such comments, and shall finalize and approve the financial plan no later than the twentieth day of November, one thousand nine hundred ninety. Employees shall be notified of any changes in the types and levels of employee costs or benefits contained in the financial plan at least thirty days prior to the date of implementation of the financial plan.
The finance board shall submit to the governor and to the Legislature the final, approved financial plan no later than the first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety. The financial plan shall become effective and shall be implemented by the director on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one.
(e) Plan for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-two. -- No later than the first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety, the governor shall prepare and provide to the finance board an estimate of the total amount of general and special revenues which the state will have available to fund the public employees insurance agency and its programs for the fiscal year beginning the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one. The finance board shall request its actuary to estimate the total financial requirements of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year.
The finance board shall prepare a proposed financial plan designed to generate revenues sufficient to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year. The proposed financial plan shall allow for between thirty and forty-five days of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. Before final adoption of the proposed financial plan, the finance board shall request its actuary to review the plan and to render a written professional opinion stating whether the plan will generate sufficient revenues to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year. The actuary's report shall explain the basis of its opinion. If the actuary concludes that the proposed financial plan will not generate sufficient revenues to meet all anticipated costs, then the finance board shall make necessary modifications to the proposed plan to ensure that all actuarially-determined financial requirements of the agency will be met.
Upon obtaining the actuary's opinion, the finance board shall conduct one or more public hearings in each congressional district to receive public comment on the proposed financial plan, shall review such comments, and shall finalize and approve the financial plan.
The finance board shall submit to the governor and to the Legislature its final, approved financial plan for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, together with the actuary's final written opinion, no later than the first day of May, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one. The financial plan shall become effective and shall be implemented by the director on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one.
(f) Annual plans. (d) (1) The finance board shall prepare in the manner provided in subsection (e) of this section, an annual financial plan for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety- three and each fiscal year thereafter during which the finance board remains in existence. The finance board chairman shall request the actuary to estimate the total financial requirements of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year.
(2) The finance board shall prepare a proposed financial plan designed to generate revenues sufficient to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year. The proposed financial plan shall allow for no more than thirty days of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. Before final adoption of the proposed financial plan, the finance board shall request the actuary to review the plan and to render a written professional opinion stating whether the plan will generate sufficient revenues to meet all estimated program and administrative costs of the public employees insurance agency for the fiscal year. The actuary's report shall explain the basis of its opinion. If the actuary concludes that the proposed financial plan will not generate sufficient revenues to meet all anticipated costs, then the finance board shall make necessary modifications to the proposed plan to ensure that all actuarially-determined financial requirements of the agency will be met.
(3) Upon obtaining the actuary's opinion, the finance board shall conduct one or more public hearings in each congressional district to receive public comment on the proposed financial plan, shall review such comments, and shall finalize and approve the financial plan.

(4) Any such financial plan shall be designed to allow thirty days or less of accounts payable to be carried over into the next fiscal year. For each such fiscal year, the governor shall provide his or her estimate of total revenues to the finance board no later than the first fifteenth day of July October of the preceding fiscal year. The finance board shall submit its final, approved financial plan, after obtaining the necessary actuary's opinion and conducting one or more public hearings in each congressional district, to the governor and to the Legislature no later than the first day of January preceding the fiscal year. The financial plan for a fiscal year shall become becomes effective and shall be implemented by the director on the first day of July of such the fiscal year. In addition to each final, approved financial plan required under this section, the finance board shall also simultaneously submit financial statements based on generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) and the final, approved plan restated on an accrual basis of accounting, which shall include allowances for incurred but not reported claims: Provided, That the financial statements and the accrual-based financial plan restatement shall not affect the approved financial plan.
(g) (e) The provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code shall not apply to the preparation, approval and implementation of the financial plans required by this section.
(f) Beginning on the first day of January, two thousand, and every year thereafter, the finance board shall submit to the governor and the Legislature, a prospective financial plan, for a period not to exceed five years, for the programs provided for in this article. Factors that the board shall consider include, but shall not be limited to, the trends for the program and the industry; the medical rate of inflation; utilization patterns; cost of services; and, state specific information such as average age of employee population, active to retiree ratios, the service delivery system and health status as these relate to the employees and retirees insured by the public employees insurance agency, their spouses and their dependents of the population.
(h) (g) The finance board shall meet on at least a quarterly basis to review implementation of its current financial plan in light of the actual experience of the public employees insurance agency. The board shall review actual costs incurred, any revised cost estimates provided by the actuary, expenditures, and any other factors affecting the fiscal stability of the plan, and may make any additional modifications to the plan necessary to ensure that the total financial requirements of the agency for the current fiscal year are met. The financial board may not increase the types and levels of cost to employees during its quarterly review except in the event of a true emergency.
(i) (h) For any fiscal year in which legislative appropriations differ from the governor's estimate of general and special revenues available to the agency, the finance board shall, within thirty days after passage of the budget bill, make any modifications to the plan necessary to ensure that the total financial requirements of the agency for the current fiscal year are met.
(j) The types and levels of costs to employers, employees and retired employees participating in public employees insurance agency group insurance plans which are currently in effect on the effective date of this article are hereby authorized. The types and levels of costs to employees participating in public employees insurance agency group insurance plans which are currently in effect on the effective date of this article shall remain in effect unless and until changed or authorized to be changed by the finance board in a financial plan prepared and approved in accordance with this section.
 §5-16-9. Authorization to execute contracts for group hospital and surgical insurance, group major medical insurance, group prescription drug insurance, group life and accidental death insurance and other accidental death insurance; mandated benefits; limitations; awarding of contracts; reinsurance; certificates for covered employees; discontinuance of contracts.
(a) The director is hereby given exclusive authorization to execute such contract or contracts as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this article and to provide the plan or plans of group hospital and surgical insurance coverage, group major medical insurance coverage, group prescription drug insurance coverage and group life and accidental death insurance coverage selected in accordance with the provisions of this article, such contract or contracts to be executed with one or more agencies, corporations, insurance companies or service organizations licensed to sell group hospital and surgical insurance, group major medical insurance, group prescription drug insurance and group life and accidental death insurance in this state.
(b) The group hospital or surgical insurance coverage and group major medical insurance coverage herein provided for shall include coverages and benefits for X-ray and laboratory services in connection with mammogram and pap smears when performed for cancer screening or diagnostic services and annual checkups for prostate cancer in men age fifty and over. Such benefits shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Baseline or other recommended mammograms for women age thirty-five to thirty-nine, inclusive;
(2) Mammograms recommended or required for women age forty to forty-nine, inclusive, every two years or as needed;
(3) A mammogram every year for women age fifty and over;
(4) A pap smear annually or more frequently based on the woman's physician's recommendation for women age eighteen and over; and
(5) A checkup for prostate cancer annually for men age fifty or over.
(c) The group life and accidental death insurance herein provided for shall be in the amount of ten thousand dollars for every employee. The amount of the group life and accidental death insurance to which an employee would otherwise be entitled shall be reduced to five thousand dollars upon such employee attaining age sixty-five.
(d) All of the insurance coverage to be provided for under this article may be included in one or more similar contracts issued by the same or different carriers.
(e) The provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code, relating to the division of purchases of the department of finance and administration, shall not apply to any contracts for any insurance coverage or professional services authorized to be executed under the provisions of this article. Before entering into any contract for any insurance coverage, as herein authorized in this article, said the director shall invite competent bids from all qualified and licensed insurance companies or carriers, who may wish to offer plans for the insurance coverage desired: Provided, That the director shall negotiate and contract directly with health care providers and other entities, organizations and vendors in order to secure competitive premiums, prices and other financial advantages. The director shall deal directly with insurers or health care providers and other entities, organizations and vendors in presenting specifications and receiving quotations for bid purposes. No commission or finder's fee, or any combination thereof, shall be paid to any individual or agent; but this shall not preclude an underwriting insurance company or companies, at their own expense, from appointing a licensed resident agent, within this state, to service the companies' contracts awarded under the provisions of this article. Commissions reasonably related to actual service rendered for such the agent or agents may be paid by the underwriting company or companies: Provided, however, That in no event shall payment be made to any agent or agents when no actual services are rendered or performed. The director shall award such the contract or contracts on a competitive basis. In awarding the contract or contracts the director shall take into account the experience of the offering agency, corporation, insurance company or service organization in the group hospital and surgical insurance field, group major medical insurance field, group prescription drug field and group life and accidental death insurance field, and its facilities for the handling of claims. In evaluating these factors, the director may employ the services of impartial, professional insurance analysts or actuaries or both. Any contract executed by the director with a selected carrier shall be a contract to govern all eligible employees subject to the provisions of this article. Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit any insurance carrier from soliciting employees covered hereunder to purchase additional hospital and surgical, major medical or life and accidental death insurance coverage.
(f) The director may authorize the carrier with whom a primary contract is executed to reinsure portions of such the contract with other carriers which elect to be a reinsurer and who are legally qualified to enter into a reinsurance agreement under the laws of this state.
(g) Each employee who is covered under any such contract or contracts shall receive a statement of benefits to which such the employee, his or her spouse and his or her dependents are entitled thereunder under the contract, setting forth such the information as to whom such the benefits shall be are payable, to whom claims shall be submitted, and a summary of the provisions of any such the contract or contracts as they affect the employee, his or her spouse and his or her dependents.
(h) The director may at the end of any contract period discontinue any contract or contracts it has executed with any carrier and replace the same with a contract or contracts with any other carrier or carriers meeting the requirements of this article.
(i) The director shall provide by contract or contracts entered into under the provisions of this article the cost for coverage of children's immunization services from birth through age sixteen years to provide immunization against the following illnesses: Diphtheria, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis-b, haemophilus influenzae-b and whooping cough. Additional immunizations may be required by the commissioner of the bureau of public health for public health purposes. Any contract entered into to cover these services shall require that all costs associated with immunization, including the cost of the vaccine, if incurred by the health care provider, and all costs of vaccine administration, be exempt from any deductible, per visit charge and/or copayment provisions which may be in force in these policies or contracts. This section does not require that other health care services provided at the time of immunization be exempt from any deductible and/or copayment provisions.
 §5-16-12. Misrepresentation by employer, employee or provider; penalty.
(a) Any person who knowingly secures or attempts to secure benefits payable under this article or anything of value to which the person is not entitled, or who knowingly secures or attempts to secure greater benefits than those to which the person is entitled, by willfully misrepresenting the presence or extent of benefits to which the person is entitled under a collateral insurance source, or by willfully misrepresenting any material fact relating to any other information requested by the director or by willfully overcharging for services provided, or by willfully misrepresenting the diagnosis or nature of the service provided, may be found to be overpaid and shall be civilly liable for any overpayment. In addition to the civil remedy provided herein, the director shall withhold payment of any benefits or other payment due to that person until any overpayment has been recovered or may directly set off, after holding internal administrative proceedings to assure due process, any such overcharges or improperly derived payment against benefits or other payment due such person hereunder. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any other remedy or civil or criminal penalty provided by law.
(b) Any employer, employee or provider who knowingly secures or attempts to secure benefits payable under this article or any other thing of value to which the person is not entitled, or knowingly attempts to secure greater benefits than those to which the person is entitled, by willfully misrepresenting, or aiding in the misrepresentation of, any material fact relating to employment, diagnosis or services rendered is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, imprisoned for not longer than two years, or both.
 §5-16-12a. Inspections; violations and penalties.
(a) The director or his or her designated representative is authorized to refer instances of suspected or potential fraud, abuse and other illegal activities involving transactions with the agency to the insurance commissioner for investigation and, if appropriate, prosecution, pursuant to article forty-one, chapter thirty-three of this code. For purposes of this section, "transactions with the agency" includes, but is not limited to, application by any insured or dependent, any employer, or any type of health care provider for payment to be made to that person or any third party by the agency.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of this article for which no other penalty is specifically provided is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars but not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for a period of not less than twenty-four hours but not more than fifteen days, or both.
§5-16-12b. Privileges and immunity.
(a) Any person who makes a report or furnishes information, written or oral, concerning suspected, anticipated or fraudulent activity to secure benefits payable under this article, or to secure greater benefits than those to which the person or provider is entitled, is entitled to those privileges and immunities existing under common or statutory law, as well as the immunity established in this section.
(b) In the absence of fraud, malice or bad faith, no person or agent, employee or designee of that person shall be subject to civil liability of any nature arising out of that person's provision of information related to suspected, anticipated or fraudulent activity in the securing of benefits payable or securing greater benefits than those to which the person or provider is entitled.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, abrogate or modify existing statutes or case law applicable to the duties or liabilities of persons acting in a manner that is itself fraudulent, with malice or in bad faith.
§5-16-24. Rules for administration of article; eligibility of certain retired employees and dependents of deceased members for coverage; employees on medical leave of absence entitled to coverage; life insurance.

The director shall promulgate such any necessary rules and regulations as may be required for the effective administration of the provisions of this article. Except as specifically provided in subsection (e), section four of this article, all rules and regulations of the public employees insurance agency and all hearings held by the public employees insurance agency shall be are exempt from the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. Any rules and regulations now in existence promulgated by the public employees insurance board or director shall remain in full force and effect until they are amended or replaced by the director.
Such regulations The rules shall provide that any employee of the state who has been compelled or required by law to retire before reaching the age of sixty-five years shall be is eligible to participate in the public employees' health insurance program at the premium contribution established by the finance board after any extended coverage to which he or she, his or her spouse and dependents may be entitled by virtue of his or her accrued annual leave or sick leave, pursuant to the provisions of section thirteen of this article, has expired. Any employee who voluntarily retires, as provided by law, shall be is eligible to participate in the public employees' health insurance program at the premium contribution established by the finance board after any extended coverage to which he or she, his or her spouse and dependents may be entitled by virtue of his or her accrued annual leave or sick leave, pursuant to the provisions of section thirteen of this article, has expired: Provided, That the employee's last employer is a participating employer. The dependents of any deceased retired employee shall be are entitled to continue their participation and coverage upon payment of the premium contribution established by the finance board. In establishing the cost of health insurance coverage for retired employees and their spouses and dependents, the finance board, in its discretion, may cause the claims experience of such the retired employees and their spouses and dependents to be rated separately from that of active employees and their spouses and dependents, or may cause the claims experience of retired and active employees, and their spouses and dependents, to be rated together.
Any employee who is on a medical leave of absence, approved by his or her employer, shall, is subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, be is entitled to continue his or her coverage until he or she returns to his or her employment, and such the employee and employer shall continue to pay their proportionate share of premium costs as provided by this article: Provided, That the employer shall be is obligated to pay its proportionate share of the premium cost only for a period of one year: Provided, however, That during the period of such the leave of absence, the employee shall, at least once each month, submit to the employer the statement of a qualified physician certifying that the employee is unable to return to work.
Any retiree retiring heretofore or hereafter, shall be is eligible to participate in the public employees' life insurance program, including the optional life insurance coverage as already available to active employees under this article, at his or her own expense for the cost of coverage, based upon actuarial experience; and the director shall prepare, by rule and regulation, for such that participation and coverages under declining term insurance and optional additional coverage for such the retirees.