STAND. COM. REP. NO. 461-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1899

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1899 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is the require the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) Board of Trustees to send actual individual notice via a Board approved method of delivery to EUTF members that they may be eligible for reimbursement of income related monthly adjustment amount Medicare part B premium payments.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees.

Your Committee finds that all efforts should be exerted to reach out to eligible recipients through mail and other means, to help ensure retirees are maximizing benefits and receiving the full value of their entitled benefits. Your Committee further finds that retirees who are entitled to reimbursements should not be denied for failing to file a claim within the time-period, nor should their reimbursement claims ever lapse simply because they were unaware of their eligibility for reimbursement.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of 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. 1899, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1899, 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