THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1241

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State provides or pays for health insurance for nearly forty per cent of the population and therefore is directly impacted by the escalating cost of health care services.  Increases in premiums for health insurance coverage affect insureds, existing and new businesses, and the overall economy of the State.

     The legislature further finds that the health care industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation and that, in order to effectively harness new or improved approaches, concepts, and initiatives that have the potential to have a positive impact on the cost and quality of health care, the State must spearhead a statewide health care transformation and strive to continuously improve the health care system.

     The purpose of this Act is to develop and implement strategies and rules directed at improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of the health care delivery system in the State and ensure that Hawaii residents and visitors have access to high quality and cost-effective health care.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter      , Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§   -    Health care transformation program.  (a)  There is established within the department of commerce and consumer affairs the health care transformation program whose principal mission is to plan, develop, and implement initiatives and policies directed at improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of the health care delivery system and ensure that Hawaii residents and visitors have access to high quality and cost-effective health care.

     (b)  The department shall develop strategies to:

     (1)  Establish standards, measures, and goals to evaluate the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care services;

     (2)  Devise fair and efficient payment models for health care services;

     (3)  Improve the authorization procedures for health care services;

     (4)  Improve and expand on the use of information technologies to organize, store, safeguard, exchange, and report clinical, cost, educational, technical, administrative, regulatory, and other health care-related data;

     (5)  Improve and promote the establishment and use of cost-effective preferred drug lists; and

     (6)  Address any other issue, solution, or initiative necessary or appropriate to further the principal mission of the program.

     (c)  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement strategies developed pursuant to subsection (b).

     (d)  To facilitate the development of strategies pursuant to subsection (b) or monitor the effectiveness of the strategies and to facilitate the adoption of any rules to implement the strategies or monitor the effectiveness of the rules, the department may in its discretion obtain information by informally consulting with any stakeholder or subject matter expert selected by the department, individually or as a group.  The department may informally collaborate with any stakeholder or subject matter expert, individually or as a group, to enable the department to create possible means or solutions to implement or ensure the effectiveness of a strategy or rule.  The director may appoint a designee to engage in the informal consultation and collaboration for the department.

     (e)  Nothing in subsection (d) shall be construed to provide a stakeholder or subject matter expert who has been consulted, individually or as a group, with supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power over any issue that is the subject of informal consultation or collaboration with the department."

     SECTION 3.  The director of commerce and consumer affairs shall submit a report, including the director's findings and any strategies developed by the health care transformation program, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 


 


 

Report Title:

Health Care Transformation Program; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

Description:

Establishes the health care transformation program within the department of commerce and consumer affairs.  Outlines the strategies that the department shall develop in regards to the program.  Allows the department to informally consult with any stakeholder or subject matter expert in order to facilitate and monitor the effectiveness of any strategy and any rules to implement the strategy by the department.  Requires the director of the department to submit a report.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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