STAND. COM. REP. NO.  72-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1736

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1736 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make amendments to enabling law that established the Hawaii Health Insurance Exchange, or Hawaii Health Connector, by, among other things:

 

(1)  Creating a separate program and risk pool to serve the individual market and a separate program and risk pool to serve the small group market;

 

(2)  Establishing the Navigator Program under which the Hawaii Health Connector may award grants to entities that are selected by the Hawaii Health Connector Board to serve as navigators;

 

(3)  Establishing staggered terms of Hawaii Health Connector Board members; and

 

(4)  Specifying the role of the Department of Human Services in making a determination of Medicaid eligibility for each individual who applies through the Hawaii Health Connector unless the applicant declines an eligibility determination.

 

     Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Medical Service Association, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and an individual testified in support of this measure.  The Office of the Governor and the Hawaii Health Connector testified in support of this measure with amendments.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The American Cancer Society and Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Clarifying the language to indicate a separate program and risk pool to serve the individual market and a separate program and risk pool to serve the small group market;

 

(2)  Establishing a timeline for Hawaii Health Connector Board member nominations and confirmations occurring after February 1, 2012; 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 Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1736, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1736, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair