STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2929

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 179

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 179 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION MANDATING THE SIZE AND EXTENT OF A MANAGED CARE PLAN'S SPECIALTY NETWORK,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the Governor develop proposed legislation based on the Hawaii QUEST request for proposal requirements to mandate the size and extent of a managed care plan's specialty network for both QUEST and QUEST Expanded Access plans.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from AlohaCare.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.  Testimony in support of this measure with amendments was submitted by the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.  Testimony commenting on this measure was submitted by Evercare by United Healthcare.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that inadequate provider networks have been a major barrier to access to care for Hawaii's Medicaid eligible members.  This problem is particularly pernicious on the neighbor islands.  Your Committees further find that the lack of adequate specialty provider networks results in delays in treatment and reduced program cost-efficiency.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing references to the California's Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 and replacing them with references to the current Hawaii QUEST request for proposal requirements;

     (2)  Including the request that plans certify that they have a contracted network that meets minimum request for proposal standards before receiving any QUEST or QUEST Expanded Access contract awards;

     (3)  Requesting that for federally designated Medically Underserved Areas, access to transportation, translation, and outreach services, and additionally for QUEST Expanded Access that management agencies, nursing facilities, and long term care, will be provided in a timely manner; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes to ensure clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 179, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 179, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair