For Immediate Release
December 19, 2019
Contact: Paul Penna
(732) 201-4133
NCOIL CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL 2019 ANNUAL MEETING IN AUSTIN
Celebrates NCOIL’s 50th Year, Passes 3 New Model Laws, Lehman Assumes Presidency
Manasquan, NJ – The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) concluded a successful 2019 Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas from December 10th – 13th at the JW Marriott Austin. There were 353 participants consisting of 57 legislators and participants from 33 states, 16 first-time legislators, 4 insurance commissioners, and 9 insurance departments represented.
“In my final meeting as a legislator, I am proud of all the work we accomplished as an organization, and I am grateful for the support and assistance of NCOIL legislators and staff over this past year,” said LA Senator Dan “Blade” Morrish, who concluded his term as NCOIL’s President at the Annual Meeting’s conclusion. “Further, I am pleased that NCOIL attracted a large number of attendees and first-time legislators to celebrate NCOIL’s 50th year. I look forward to watching from afar the success of future NCOIL Presidents with great pride.” Participants at the Welcome Breakfast heard from TX Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan who discussed objectives for the department and the policy challenges Texas and the nation face in the insurance industry.
Tom Workman, Independent Member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, delivered a compelling Keynote Luncheon Address as an insurance expert with more than four decades of experience in the insurance sector.
The packed agenda was highlighted by the passages of three NCOIL Model Laws – the NCOIL Drug Pricing Transparency Model Act by the Health Insurance & Long-Term Care Issues Committee, sponsored by TX Representative Tom Oliverson, M.D. and co-sponsored by LA Senator Dan “Blade Morrish; the NCOIL Workers’ Compensation Drug Formulary Model Act by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Committee, sponsored by IN Representative Matt Lehman; and NCOIL Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Model Act by the Property & Casualty Insurance Committee, sponsored by KY Representative Bart Rowland. These models were then passed by the Executive Committee.
“Thank you to the wonderful host committee and TX Rep. Tom Oliverson for being a great host to us in Austin. As NCOIL concludes its 50th year, I am proud that the organization has stayed on the cutting edge with the passage of timely Model Laws and Resolutions and has engaged in meaningful dialogue with federal and regulatory counterparts,” said Commissioner Tom Considine, NCOIL CEO. “There is much work to be done in the new year, but the Spring meeting agenda NCOIL is considering shows 2020 will be consistent with NCOIL’s upward trend.”
The Nominating Committee selected KY Representative Joe Fischer to serve as Secretary, the first step in the NCOIL Officer ranks. The other officers were elected to the next chair in the sequence: NY Asm. Kevin Cahill moved up to Treasurer, CA Asm. Ken Cooley moved up to Vice President and IN Rep. Matt Lehman moved up and will serve as President. Outgoing President LA Sen. Blade Morrish will serve as Immediate Past President, until his term in the LA Senate ends in January 2020, along with AR Sen. Jason Rapert. Sen. Rapert and IN Sen. Travis Holdman will serve as Immediate Past Presidents in 2020.
IN Representative Matt Lehman, NCOIL President, said, “I look forward to continuing to increase state legislator participation at NCOIL. Our organization has been a leader in educating policymakers to make informed insurance policy decisions that protect consumers and ensure a vibrant insurance marketplace in every state. I know how valuable NCOIL has been to me in Indiana and to legislators across the country. Sen. Morrish has done an outstanding job as President and I look forward to his counsel as Past President.”
KY Representative Joe Fischer, NCOIL Secretary, said, “I am honored to be elected, by my peers from across the nation, to serve as NCOIL’s next Secretary. NCOIL is an important organization that I have partnered with for many years as a state legislator. I am eager to continue making a positive impact on insurance and financial services public policy as an NCOIL Officer.”
Remarks from Managing Director of the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman, Michael McCord, were delivered at The Institutes Griffith Foundation Legislator Luncheon titled “A Primer on Microinsurance for Public Policymakers”. The luncheon was followed by concurrent sessions: “Microinsurance Explosion: Lessons from Abroad and their Impact on the U.S. Market” and a Special Drug Pricing Session for public policymakers and staff titled “Start Up CEO: The Role of Price in the Biopharmaceutical Business Model”.
The NCOIL Innovation Series continued with a discussion on “The Gig Gap: Does Insurance Come With That?” There were two interesting and timely general sessions: “Insuring the Previously Unimaginable: A Discussion on the Active Shooter Insurance Coverage Landscape” and “The U.S. Healthcare System in Flux. Judicial Repeal of the ACA? Medicare For Whom?”
The Property & Casualty Insurance Committee re-adopted the NCOIL Model Act Regarding the Use of Insurance Claims History Information in Homeowners and Personal Lines Residential Property Insurance. The Executive Committee passed a resolution honoring Former NCOIL President William Larkin (NY) and a resolution in Support of the Reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
The Special Committee on Natural Disaster Recovery continued discussion on the NCOIL Private Flood Insurance Model Act and heard from Michael Hecht, President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., regarding lessons in natural disaster recovery.
The Health Insurance & Long Term Care Issues Committee continued discussions on the NCOIL Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI) Model Act and the NCOIL Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) Model Act. The Health Insurance & Long Term Care Issues Committee also heard briefings on upcoming Health Committee topics regarding the introduction of the Patient Dental Care Bill of Rights Model Act, prior authorization reforms, an update on the biosimilar landscape, and the introduction of a Vision Care Services Model Law Concept.
The Financial Services & Multi-Lines Issues Committee continued discussion on the development of NCOIL Insurance Modernization Model Legislation, including discussion on the NCOIL Rebate Reform Model Act, and NCOIL Electronic Salvage Title Model Act.
The Joint State-Federal Relations & International Insurance Issues Committee continued discussion on the NCOIL Insurance Business Transfer (IBT) Model Law, proposed amendments to the NCOIL Market Conduct Surveillance Model Law, and the reauthorization of TRIA
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Committee discussed Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) coverage and other expanding benefit changes in the workers’ compensation insurance marketplace. The Life Insurance & Financial Planning Committee examined the use of genetic testing information in life insurance underwriting as well as overall life insurance underwriting trends and developments. The Property & Casualty Insurance Committee discussed the NCOIL Electric Scooter Insurance Model Act and insurance rating variables. Discussions of these model law proposals will continue during interim committee calls and at the 2020 Spring Meeting in Charlotte, NC.
Committee meeting minutes will be posted within the next week at www.ncoil.org.
The 2020 NCOIL Spring Meeting will take place in Charlotte, NC from March 6th – 8th.
Registration is now open at https://ncoil.org/register-now
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NCOIL is a national legislative organization with the nation’s 50 states as members, represented principally by legislators serving on their states’ insurance and financial institutions committees. NCOIL writes Model Laws in insurance and financial services, works to preserve the State jurisdiction over insurance as established by the McCarran-Ferguson Act seventy four years ago, and to serve as an educational forum for public policymakers and interested parties. Founded in 1969, NCOIL works to assert the prerogative of legislators in making State policy when it comes to insurance and educate State legislators on current and longstanding insurance issues.