RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the cost of health care, long-term care, insurance premium costs, and prescription drug costs in Hawaii and the nation are escalating exponentially; and

WHEREAS, we are fortunate to be a healthy state and that our citizens live longer, yet it also means that we have a rapidly aging society requiring more health care; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii spends almost $5,000,000,000 on healthcare, or 12 percent of the gross state product; and

WHEREAS, an increasing financial burden is placed on businesses, especially small businesses, because of the rapidly increasing costs of health care premiums; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Prepaid Health Care Act (PHCA) of 1974 is to provide health care coverage for most of Hawaii's citizens; and

WHEREAS, although PHCA served its purpose at the time it was created and many years thereafter, other situations and issues have created a larger number of uninsured; and

WHEREAS, costs are increasing not only for insurance coverage for employees of private-sector businesses, but also for public employees and retirees, who actually pay more out-of-pocket for health insurance coverage because the State of Hawaii as an employer is exempt from PHCA; and

WHEREAS, while Medicaid and QUEST provide health coverage for some of the uninsured, coverage is usually minimal, and there is still a "gap group" that is neither insured nor eligible for Medicaid or QUEST; and

WHEREAS, although healthcare costs are escalating rapidly, hospitals and nursing homes still suffer massive financial losses, in part because of inadequate reimbursement rates that do not even cover the actual cost of care; and

WHEREAS, a decade ago, Hawaii led the nation in having the highest rate of insured individuals, but has since dropped to thirteenth, with over 100,000 uninsured individuals; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress and President of the United States currently appear to be unable or unwilling to seriously address healthcare access issues; and

WHEREAS, a solution needs to be provided now to prevent a further increase in the number of uninsured, and to prevent increased State Medicaid and other health care costs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that an interim task force on universal health care be formed to consider the feasibility of providing universal health care in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be led by the Chair of the House Committee on Health and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health; and

WHEREAS, the members of the task force shall include, but not be limited to:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to gather information and provide possible solutions and proposed legislation on the feasibility of providing universal health care in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, the Governor, Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, president of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, President of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region, Chair of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board, Chair of the Hawaii Public Employees Health Fund Board, President of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, President of the ILWU Local 142, President of the United Public Workers Union, Executive Director of the Hawaii Primary Care Association, Executive Director of the Hawaii Medical Association, President of the Hawaii Dental Association, Insurance Commissioner, and the local representative of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Report Title:

Universal Health Interim Task Group