STAND. COM. REP. NO.  843

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 656

      H.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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 656, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATIVE UNIFORMITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow open and robust collaboration on uniform administrative standards and procedures to help enhance the quality of health care in Hawaii.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the provisions that allows the cooperation, collaboration, or agreement among certain insurers, third-party administrators, health care providers or facilities, managed care plans, health care associations, or government agencies to develop and adopt uniform administrative procedures;

     (2)  Establishing the temporary Health Care Transformation Program within the Office of the Governor to identify the issues that need to be addressed to achieve statewide healthcare transformation, including the development of a strategy, framework, timeline, proposed legislation, and rules;

     (3)  Requiring the Governor to submit a progress report on the status of the health care transformation program no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 656, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 656, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair