STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1179

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1240

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1240, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEDIATRIC DENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Health Connector to ensure that all individuals under age 19 purchase essential health benefits under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Federal Act), including pediatric dental coverage under a health plan.

 

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided testimony in support of this measure.  Kaiser Permanente Hawaii provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Department of Health provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes the Hawaii Health Connector's concern that this measure appears to impose an enforcement or regulatory role upon the Connector that is beyond the scope of its purpose as a facilitator and portal.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Instead requiring the Hawaii Health Connector to provide information on the requirement that all individuals under age 19 have coverage with all essential health benefits under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including pediatric dental coverage;

 

     (2)  Deleting language requiring the Hawaii Health Connector to alert and require individuals who do not have such coverage to reselect a qualified plan including pediatric dental coverage or add a qualified dental plan to the purchase; and

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion.

 

     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 S.B. No. 1240, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1240, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair