Commish's Huddle To Have 6 Newcomers

By Jim Connolly

NU Online News Service, Jan. 31, 2:00 p.m. EST--When state insurance commissioners meet Feb. 3-4 in Denver for their annual huddle and strategy session that sets the tone for the year, it will be a first time for six participants.

Mike Pickens, the new president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Kansas City, Mo., spoke to National Underwriter of the turnover and about major issues that will be discussed at the session and advanced this year.

The freshman class of commissioners is the largest group in a decade. Currently, there are 13 new commissioners, but that number is expected to reach up to 23 sometime this year.

Mr. Pickens said the NAIC is establishing a mentor program where new commissioners can work with a seasoned commissioner and get background on any issue.

Kiosks will also be made available so new commissioners can learn more about NAIC services and resources, he added.

Mr. Pickens said that despite staff turnover at insurance departments, there can be a smooth transition, because "there are good people behind those people that are willing to step up. We have a deep bench in the states."

If the NAIC is going to educate its own on the issues, it is also going to undertake an education process of state and federal lawmakers.

The NAIC, Mr. Pickens said, will continue to bring its message to federal lawmakers through its Washington office and "will maintain more of a presence" given issues that will come up in Congress.

For instance, he said that a discussion of a single federal regulator could come up this year.

NAIC is already part of the discussion on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 and continues to work on remaining questions such as whether captive insureds or self-insureds should be included under the scope of the act.

Another issue that is being raised is whether states performing market conduct examinations should be the "primary enforcers" for making sure there is compliance among insurers with the USA Patriot Act's money laundering provisions.

At a grass roots level, Mr. Pickens said that a new program, ASSURE, will be introduced at the spring NAIC national meeting in Atlanta from March 8-11. The Alliance of Sound State Uniform Regulatory Efficiency will be used as an education tool for state and local lawmakers, he adds.

When the NAIC spreads the word about its work, the message will include some of last year's steadies:

? Interstate Compact, a project to develop a single point of filing for insurance products, spearheaded by immediate past NAIC president and Iowa Insurance Commissioner Terri Vaughan.

? Market conduct and consumer affairs, headed up by NAIC Secretary-Treasurer and Oregon Administrator Joel Ario.

? Work on ensuring proper payment of Holocaust claims, headed up by returning California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

There will also be some new items that Mr. Pickens said the NAIC faces this year. For example, the General Accounting Office is expected to deliver a report this spring or summer that could raise concerns about the market conduct process, he said.

"Now is the time to move market conduct and health issues to the front of the line," he said.

In fact, health care will be a major focus this year, with a goal of focusing on cost drivers and finding market-based solutions, he added. Cost drivers he cites include medical care, pharmaceuticals and utilization.

Potential solutions, he explained, could include medical savings accounts, or health insurance purchasing pools that are not association health plans, but have features of AHPs which are small group insurance pools that spread risks across a state.

In Arkansas, Mr. Pickens said, small employers can participate in purchasing pools and health consumers can choose a plan with or without state mandates depending on budget.

The pool, he continued, would be with a licensed health insurance company, which would help ensure solvency since it would have to meet regulatory standards.

Such plans have been "fairly well received by the business community," Mr. Pickens said.

In April or May, he said NAIC will meet with regulators in China to determine their needs in order for more U.S. companies to gain access to the Chinese market. Insurance regulators also will be working Vietnam, Brazil, Chile and Russia, Mr. Pickens said.

International efforts are being headed up by Ernest Csiszar, NAIC vice president and director of the South Carolina insurance department.

Heading up the Health Insurance and Managed Care "B" Committee will be Janie Miller, Kentucky insurance commissioner.

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Commish's Huddle To Have 6 Newcomers

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