STAND. COM. REP. NO. 325

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1358

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1358 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICARE PART B,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide members of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) with:

(1) Individual actual notice in instances where Medicare Part B claims are not filed; and

(2) The ability to file a claim for reimbursement of Medicare Part B premiums or other claims payable at any time.

United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO and two concerned individuals supported this measure. The EUTF Board of Trustees provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the amendments that allowed EUTF members to file a claim for reimbursement at any time;

(2) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1358, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1358, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair