STAND. COM. REP. NO. 129-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2833
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
2833 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to permit an insured to direct
an insurer to reimburse a dental provider, regardless of whether
the provider is a participating provider with the insurer.

     Testimony in support of this bill was submitted by the
Hawaii Dental Association and several concerned individuals.
Testimony in opposition to this bill was submitted by the Hawaii
Government Employees Association, Hawaii Medical Service
Association, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Legislative
Information Services of Hawaii, and University Health Alliance. 
  
     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that an insurer shall reimburse the provider
          based upon the insurer's benefit fee schedule and
          guidelines regardless of whether or not the provider is
          a participating provider with the insurer;

     (2)  Removing the interest penalty against an insurer for
          nonpayment of a claim; and


 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 129-00
                                 Page 2

 
     (3)  Deleting the provisions allowing certain disputed
          claims to be excluded from the reimbursement
          requirements; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity
          and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2833, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2833, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair