Informational Briefing on Hawaii's Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

On March 17, 2014 the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational briefing to receive an update from the Hawai‘i Health Connector, the Insurance Commissioner and the Governor's Healthcare Transformation Coordinator regarding Connector operations and Hawaii's implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with significant deadlines ahead including the end of the individual open enrollment period on March 31, 2014. The Hawai‘i Health Connector focused on plan enrollment, improvements to IT operations, discussions about sustainability, and recent Federal guidance that affects Connector operations.

The Insurance Commissioner discussed the impact of recent changes to ACA, the opportunities presented to individuals and small businesses as well as the significance of the open enrollment period.

The Healthcare Transformation Coordinator outlined state agency stakeholder actions that affect ACA implementation in Hawai‘i.

The following individuals were invited to participate:
1. Tom Matsuda, Interim Executive Director, Hawai‘i Health Connector
2. Gordon Ito, Insurance Commissioner, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
3. Beth Giesting, Healthcare Transformation Coordinator, Office of the Governor

View the presentation materials.

Mortgage Foreclosure (Act 48)

Mortgage Foreclosure (Act 48) - Reforms our foreclosure laws and provides a process for Hawai‘i homeowners to meet with their lenders face-to-face to try and save their homes from foreclosure and work out a mutually acceptable solution. The mortgage foreclosure dispute resolution program uses trained neutrals to facilitate communication between the parties to maximize the likelihood of a successful outcome. The program is administered by the State's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs with assistance from the State Judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution. Although some lenders seem to want to disregard our laws, we believe the transparency, notice and consumer protection provisions of the law will assist homeowners whether in a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure action. For further information regarding this legislation and the resolution program, please visit the DCCA website for more information.

Mortgage Foreclosures

Because of concern over mortgage foreclosures, in 2010 the Legislature passed Act 162 (2010) forming the Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force. This group has worked diligently to develop general and specific policies and procedures necessary to improve the manner in which mortgage foreclosures are conducted in the State. Their work can be found in their Report to the Legislature located on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website. Click to view report.