STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1319
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.C.R. No. 227
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 227 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY AND REPORT ON COMPETITIVE PRACTICES OF HEALTH INSURERS, MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES, AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the competitive practices of health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and any other organization providing health care coverage in Hawaii. Your Committee finds that this would be a repeat of a study that the Bureau conducted during 1994-1995.
Your Committee recognizes the concerns that drive this request for a study. However, your Committee believes that conducting another study will not resolve these underlying concerns, because any desired changes will not actually be implemented by another study. In fact, devoting efforts to an additional study will most likely delay putting eventual solutions into action.
Accordingly, your Committee strongly recommends to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which this Concurrent Resolution is being referred, to amend this measure by deleting its entire contents and:
(1) Replacing the "Whereas" provisions with a listing of the concerns of the proponents of this measure; and
(2) Replacing the "Resolved" provisions with a request that the Insurance Commissioner and the Attorney General:
(A) Review the concerns enumerated in the Concurrent Resolution and take direct action to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute any actions found to be illegal; and
(B) Report to the Legislature with respect to all concerns expressed, by specifically submitting drafts of any legislation that would be necessary to rectify each concern raised, along with an explanation of the agencies' position as to the advisability, or lack thereof, of enacting each of the proposed measures.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 227 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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