STAND. COM. REP. NO.  207

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 697

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 697 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNEMPLOYED PERSONS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that individuals who lose their employer-based health insurance due to the effects of the current economic downturn are provided a safety net for their health care coverage.  This bill:

 

     (1)  Establishes the Temporary Health Insurance for Unemployed Persons Program (Program) which offers similar health benefits provided by the QUEST-Net Program;

 

     (2)  Partially reimburses individuals who continue their health insurance coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA); and

 

     (3)  Appropriates funds to administer the Program as well as to reimburse individuals enrolled in COBRA health care coverage.

 

     The Hawaii Medical Service Association, ILWU Local 142, and an individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services offered comments.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 697 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair