STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 196-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2105
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2105 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COLLECTIVE MEDIATION BY PHYSICIANS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee finds that this measure is modeled after an Alaska law enacted in 2002, which allows physicians and insurers to collectively convene for discussion, with the goal of improving contractual relations and improving access to care. However, your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Department of the Attorney General in testimony that this measure may be subject to federal preemption by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, since it exempts self-insured health benefit plans. Concerns were also raised that this measure may conflict with federal antitrust laws. In light of these concerns, your committee believes that a study on this issue is prudent.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language authorizing physicians to engage in collective mediation with health benefit plans;
(2) Requiring the Department of the Attorney General to conduct a feasibility study on whether the Legislature may authorize competing physicians to engage in collective mediation with health benefit plans, including federal preemption and other legal concerns associated with this type of collective action;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 2105, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2105, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair |
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