STAND. COM. REP. NO.  184-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2461

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2461 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve Hawaii's health care system and patient care by requiring health insurers and like entities to offer at least the same prescription drug coverage to the insured that the insured individual had under their previous insurance plan.

     The Neuropathy Action Foundation, Hawaii Coalition for Health, Hawaii Congress of Physicians and Other Healthcare Providers, American Cancer Society, National Cornerstone Healthcare Services Inc., the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill. The Department of Human Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans testified in opposition to this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  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. 2461, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2461, 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,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair