Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1304 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a temporary healthcare task force to develop a plan for implementing health care for all residents of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, ILWU Local 142, and concerned individuals supported this bill. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and Kaiser Permanente supported the intent of the measure. A concerned individual submitted comments.

Your Committees find that it is increasingly difficult to obtain or afford healthcare and healthcare coverage and that the number of individuals in Hawaii that are uninsured or underinsured continues to grow. This bill would initiate the process of investigating alternative means of providing coverage for all residents.

Concerns were raised over the composition of the task force, particularly the participation of agents or representatives from Hawaii's medical insurance industry and the lack of specificity in the process for selecting task force members.

Additionally, your Committees identified a number of issues and areas for the task force to consider, including work produced by other panels and legislative bodies, the Prepaid Healthcare Act, and an evaluation and assessment of other health resources such as Medicaid, QUEST, auto and home owners insurance, and workers' compensation.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this bill by changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1304, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1304, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.