STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2238

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2121

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2121 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to permit insured patients to assign insurance reimbursement for dental services directly to their dentist of choice.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Dental Association and nine individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Dental Service.

     Your Committee finds that the accessibility and affordability of proper dental services are continuing problems in the State.  Your Committee further finds that the current restrictions regarding assignment of reimbursement for dental services discourage and limit patients' right to choose their own dentist.  This measure reduces some barriers for the people of this State to receive proper dental care and services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 2121, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2121, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair