Overview: Bill Number: PS 644, Title: Para enmendar el inciso (b) de la Sección 3 y el inciso (a) de la Sección 4 de la Ley Núm. 95 de 29 de junio de 1963, según enmendada, conocida como "Ley de Beneficios de Salud para Empleados Públicos" a los fines de autorizar que el Departamento de la Vivienda y la Administración de Vivienda Pública puedan negociar y contratar directamente todo lo concerniente a los beneficios relacionados a los planes de seguros de servicios de salud de sus respectivos funcionarios y empleados; y renumerar el inciso (k) como inciso (1) y añadir un nuevo inciso (k) al Artículo 4 de la Ley Núm. 97 de 10 de junio de 1972, según enmendada, conocida como "Ley Orgánica del Departamento de la Vivienda", a los fines de facultar a la Secretaria a negociar con cualquier entidad de servicios de seguros de salud; y para otros fines relacionados, Status: Ley 38-2025, Introduced: May 22, 2025, Classification: bill
Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this bill is to amend the "Law on Health Benefits for Public Employees" to authorize the Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration to directly negotiate and contract for health insurance plans for their respective officials and employees. Additionally, it aims to empower the Secretary of the Department of Housing to negotiate with any health insurance service entity.
Key Provisions:
- Authorizes the Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration to directly negotiate and contract for health insurance plans for their officials and employees
- Renumbers subsection (k) as subsection (l) and adds a new subsection (k) to the Organic Law of the Department of Housing to empower the Secretary to negotiate with any health insurance service entity
Affected Parties and Impacts:
- Officials and employees of the Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration, who will have more flexibility in their health insurance options
- The Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration, which will have the authority to directly negotiate and contract for health insurance plans
- The health insurance industry, which may see increased competition and negotiation for public sector contracts
Procedural and Timeline Considerations:
- The bill has been enacted into law (Ley 38-2025) and is now in effect.
- The Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration will need to implement the new negotiation and contracting processes for health insurance plans.
