Ohio § 1731.02

§ 1731.02.

(A) It is determined and declared that the provision of health care to employees and

retirees in this state and to their dependents and families is of paramount public

importance to the economic and general welfare of the people of the state, that rising

costs of health care have made it difficult for small employers to provide for health

care benefits, that the creation of alliances of small employers to bargain with insurers

better assures the obtaining of adequate coverage and benefits under health benefit

plans at affordable costs and that the larger the number of employees and other covered

persons under such alliance, the more certain is the achievement of those objectives,

and that it is the public policy and a public purpose of the state to encourage alliances

of small employers to obtain health benefit plans, and to permit flexibility in the

coverage and benefits thereunder and encourage substantial size in such alliances,

in order to enhance strength in bargaining and economies of scale and thereby achieve

broader coverage and benefit options at reduced costs. (B) The provisions and authority under and benefits provided by this chapter shall be

liberally construed and applied toward the achievement of the public objectives set

forth in division (A) of this section. (C) The provisions and authority provided by this chapter are in addition to and not

in derogation of other authority under law and do not reflect adversely on any existing

or future health benefit organization, program, or arrangement for the benefit of

more than one employer that is established under other authority.  Any such organization, program, or arrangement that fits the definitions of “small

employer health care alliance” and “alliance program,” respectively, in section 1731.01 of the Revised Code and otherwise conforms to the applicable conditions and provisions of this chapter

is entitled to all applicable benefits under this chapter.