STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2386

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2664

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2664 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require health benefits plans under the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to include all benefits required under article 10A of chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, article 1 of chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and chapter 432D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

 

     Your Committees find that health benefits plans established by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) are exempt from new covered benefits requirements applicable to the State's insurance code.  Implementation of this measure will provide equity in the State's healthcare system by ensuring that EUTF's members and their dependents have access to the same healthcare services and treatment required under state law for other contracts and plans for health care coverage.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2664 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair