STAND. COM. REP. NO.  248-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 1598

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1598 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTHCARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide universal health care for all Hawaii residents.

     Specifically, this bill creates a unified, single-payer, universal health care insurance system, similar to the health care system in Canada, and administered by the State Healthcare Insurance Planning and Financing Authority, trustee-members of which are elected, using a universal healthcare provision fund to cover medically necessary health care for all permanent Hawaii residents.  The bill prohibits private health care insurers from duplicating the coverage provided by the universal health care insurance system.  The bill transfers the functions of the State Health Planning and Development Authority to the State Healthcare Insurance Planning and Financing Authority and assigns the Authority as the state liaison with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The bill further transfers the functions of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to the Authority.  The Authority is required to assess temporary progressive income and general excise surtaxes for start-up and maintenance of the universal healthcare system.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from a councilmember of the Hawaii County Council, the Hawaii County Council, the Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, the Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, Physicians for a National Health Program, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Chapter, and fifteen individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Department of Budget and Finance, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans.  The Attorney General and the ILWU Local 142 offered comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by amending the effective date to July 1, 2050 for the purpose of stimulating further discussion.

     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. 1598, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1598, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair