STAND. COM. REP. NO 180

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1341

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1341 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INNOVATION WAIVER,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide resources to develop a waiver from certain provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Resources Development, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Medical Service Association, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure amends the scope of the State Innovation Waiver Task Force, established by Act 158, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, to conform with the requirements of section 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act), relating to state innovation waivers.  The Affordable Care Act waiver is an important tool that allows states to amend provisions of the Affordable Care Act to better support unique circumstances that exist in each state's health care market.

 

     Your Committee further finds that a state innovation waiver is particularly important for Hawaii, which has already benefited from the success of the Prepaid Health Care Act.  Supporting the State Innovation Waiver Task Force will enable Hawaii to remain at the forefront of health policy innovation, comply with the Affordable Care Act, ensure the Prepaid Health Care Act coexists and complements the Affordable Care Act, and improve the overall functioning of the State's health care system.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1341, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1341, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair