Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2082 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to define what type of health care information can be provided to employer groups, and under what circumstances.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and Summerlin Life & Health Insurance Company.

Your Committee finds that it is in the best interest of the entire community that individual privacy be both valued and protected. Sensitive information should be safeguarded, and individuals should not be penalized for their respective health conditions. This measure requires that health insurers provide aggregate claims experience to employers with at least twenty-five employees, upon payment of a fee.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2082 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.