STAND. COM. REP. 279

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 296

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 296 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH ALLIANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Hawaii Health Alliance to, among other things:

(1) Provide the widest choice of health care options and plans for consumers;

(2) Review prepaid health plans; and

(3) Investigate and implement other measures to control cost increases.

The Department of Human Services, Kaiser Permanente, and a concerned individual submitted comments on this measure. The Hawaii Medical Association and Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that it is necessary to reduce skyrocketing health care costs in Hawaii. Moreover, your Committee finds that building upon Hawaii's successful mode of public-private partnership is the best method of achieving a reduction in the rate of the increase of health care cost.

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. 296 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair