STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1155

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 56

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 56, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to work towards providing healthcare insurance for all Hawaii residents by establishing the Hawaii Health Commission to develop a comprehensive health plan that includes:

 

     (1)  Determination of eligibility for the health plan;

 

     (2)  Determination of all reimbursable services under the plan;

 

     (3)  Determination of all approved providers of services under the plan;

 

     (4)  Evaluation of the quality and cost-effectiveness of all aspects of the plan; and

 

     (5)  Establishment of a budget for the plan.

 

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Oahu, National Association of Social Workers–Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  ILWU Local 142 testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Department of Budget and Finance opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Removing the appropriation amount;

 

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to facilitate 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 56, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 56, H.D. 3.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair