STAND. COM. REP. NO.  190

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1201

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1201 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the State to conform to new federal regulations under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, in a manner consistent with local practice by establishing a private, nonprofit Hawaii Health Benefit Exchange.

 

     The American Cancer Society, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported this bill.  The State Insurance Commissioner supported the intent of this measure.  The American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Removing provisions establishing a Hawaii Health Benefit Exchange Oversight Council;

 

     (2)  Increasing the number of members of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Benefit Exchange from seven to nine, to include two additional members appointed by the Governor from the community;

 

     (3)  Requiring the Board of Directors to submit an annual report to the Legislature;

 

     (4)  Authorizing the Board of Directors to establish fees to offset administrative costs; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 1201, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1201, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair