STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1669-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3015

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3015, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect health insurance consumers by amending the Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act to establish prohibited unfair or deceptive acts or practices by managed care plans.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Faith Action for Community Equity, Hawaii Coalition for Health, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

     Your Committees find that this bill will enhance the Insurance Commissioner's ability to address health insurance consumer grievances through administrative action.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2009, to give managed care plans time to comply with the new provisions; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3015, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3015, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary,

____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Chair

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair