STAND. COM. REP. NO.  969

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1240

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1240, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEDIATRIC DENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure pediatric dental coverage for all individuals under the age of 19 years by requiring the Hawaii Health Connector to require all such individuals to purchase essential health benefits under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including pediatric health coverage.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Hawaii Medical Service Association testified in support of this measure.  Kaiser Permanente testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Health Connector, and Hawaii Primary Care Association provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce examine the issue raised by the Insurance Commissioner regarding the measure's consequences with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

     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 S.B. No. 1240, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair