STAND. COM. REP. NO.  537

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 914

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 914, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that health insurers that provide health care network plans have sufficient practitioners and services to meet the needs of their enrollees or members.  This measure is based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Model Act, as modified by a working group convened by the Insurance Commissioner.

The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association testified in support of this measure.  Kaiser Permanente testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the provisions of the Article on Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy of the Insurance Code created by this Act shall not apply to limited benefit health insurance policies.

     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. 914, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 914, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair