THE SENATE
                THE TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE
                 REGULAR SESSION OF 1999

    MEASURES DEFERRED TO WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1999


         COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
      COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
                        1:15 p.m.
                   Conference Room 016

         DECISION MAKING ON THE FOLLOWING BILLS
            (Deferred from February 9, 1999)


SB 1160    RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.             CPN/HHS,JDC
           Clarifies  and   updates   provisions  relating  to
           controlled substances.

SB 817     RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT             HHS/CPN,JDC
           ACCOUNTS.
           Establishes an  Individual  Development  Account to
           promote  entrepreneurship,   education,  and  self-
           sufficiency for  welfare  recipients and low-income
           individuals.

SB 101     RELATING TO HEALTH MAINTENANCE                 HHS/CPN,WAM
           ORGANIZATIONS.
           Creates office  of  the  HMO  ombudsman  to receive
           complaints and act  as  advocate  for HMO consumers
           and participants of the Hawaii Health QUEST program
           regarding quality of  care,  cost, payment, access,
           or delivery of health services provided by HMOs and
           the QUEST program.

SB 787     RELATING TO PATIENTS RIGHTS AND                HHS/CPN,WAM
           RESPONSIBILITIES ACT.  
           Expands rights of  enrollees  in managed care plans
           including:  emergency care  by any provider without
           prior  authorization;   access   to  out-of-network
           providers;   choice   of   specialist   as  primary
           careprovider; standing referrals;  direct access to
           OB/GYN    specialists;    continuity    of    care;
           nonformulary medications incentives; prohibition of
           gag clauses  and  restrictive financial incentives;
           creation   of   health   care   rights   ombudsman;
           prohibition of  financial  incentives;  creation of
           health care rights ombudsman; prohibition of ban on
           clinical trial participation; and  right to sue for
           denial of care.

SB 998     RELATING TO PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS AND        HHS/CPN,WAM
           RESPONSIBILITIES ACT.

 
           Makes HMOs, managed care entities, health insurers,
           and mutual  benefit  societies  liable  for harm to
           insured or enrollee  caused  by failure to exercise
           ordinary   care   when   making   health  treatment
           decisions.   Requires  claimant  to  give notice of
           claim and agree to  review by an independent review
           organization.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SB 870     RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.                     HHS/CPN,WAM
           Establishes mental health patient's bill of rights;
           creates independent office  of ombudsman for mental
           health services; requires  ombudsman  to assist and
           advocate for mental  health services for consumers;
           allows the ombudsman to  accept federal and private
           funds and grants.

SB 131     RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE                     HHS/CPN,WAM
           Requires long-term care  insurance policies to meet
           specified standards;  requires  employers  to offer
           LTC policies to  employees; makes appropriation for
           LTC  actuarial   study;   makes   appropriation  to
           insurance division  to  hire  LTC  actuary; extends
           sunset date and makes appropriation for JLC.


                   No testimony will be accepted.


For further information, please call the committee clerk at 586-6130.