STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1500

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 576

       H.D. 1

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 576, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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 develop a health care reform plan for Hawaii that meets the requirements to obtain a state innovation waiver that complies with the federal Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Narrows the scope of work of the State Innovation Waiver Task Force, established pursuant to Act 158, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, in developing a plan to apply for a state innovation waiver that meets the requirements of section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and

 

(2)  Appropriates funds for expenses related to developing the waiver.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Insurance Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and The Queen's Health Systems.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii leads the nation in the lowest number of residents without health insurance due to the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act.  Your Committee further finds that the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes state innovation waiver initiatives that allow states to implement specialized health care reforms that may vary from the federal Act but which offer equally comprehensive coverage and quality of care for their residents.

 

     Act 158, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, created the State Innovation Waiver Task Force and directed it to examine alternative approaches and options to certain health insurance reform provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Act 158 also directed the task force to develop a plan for applying for a state innovation waiver.  Your Committee believes that this measure will focus the efforts of the task force solely on developing an application for a state innovation waiver that complies with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, while preserving the uniquely effective features of Hawaii's health insurance market.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 576, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair