STAND. COM. REP. NO.  174-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2146

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2146 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to implement the recommendations of the Affordable Health Insurance Working Group by authorizing the State to submit another state innovation waiver proposal under section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 to the federal government.

 

     The Department of Human Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii supported this measure.  One concerned individual provided comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that reinsurance programs in conjunction with innovation waivers have been established in other States as a method to mitigate premium increases in individual health insurance markets.  The innovation waivers are able to provide pass-through funding from the federal government based on savings that the reinsurance programs create and this measure is necessary if the State is to pursue similar coverage options.  A state reinsurance program if appropriately structured could benefit consumers by encouraging more health plan participation where there is not currently enough competition.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2146, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2146, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair