STAND. COM. REP. NO.  182-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2291

      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. 2291 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to make health care accessible for the people of Hawaii by establishing the State Health Authority (Authority) to develop a plan to provide health care for all residents of Hawaii.

 

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Medical Association, and concerned individuals opposed this bill.  The Hawaii Association of Health Plans submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Delaying the date on which the Authority becomes the designated state Medicaid agency from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2011;

 

(2)  Delaying the date of implementation of the health plan from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2012;

 

(3)  Delaying the time by which the Authority must submit its plan, proposal, and legislation to the legislature from at least 20 days before the Regular Session of 2009 to at least 20 days before the Regular Session of 2011;

 

     (4)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050; and

 

(5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 2291, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2291, 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