STAND. COM. REP. NO. 762

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 403

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 403, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to adapt and preserve certain benefits of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act under state law.

 

More specifically, this measure incorporates certain provisions into state personal income tax and health insurance laws, including a taxpayer's minimum essential coverage requirements and a related tax credit, and required health insurance provisions relating to essential health care benefits, extension of dependent coverage, prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions, prohibited discrimination in premiums or contributions, and nondiscrimination in health care.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; AAUW Windward Oahu Branch; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; American Heart Association; Breastfeeding Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network; Hawaii Psychological Association; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; ILWU Local 142; IMUAlliance; Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; March of Dimes; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; The Queen's Health Systems; and twenty-seven individuals.

 

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Taxation, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that for over forty years, Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act has ensured that Hawaii would have among the lowest levels of uninsured persons in the nation with regard to health insurance.  The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has reduced the number of uninsured persons even further, affording 55,000 more Hawaii residents access to affordable care from doctors and hospitals.  However, this achievement potentially is jeopardized with the proposed repeal of the federal act.  Your Committee believes this measure is necessary to protect the elements of the federal act that have improved access to health care in Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee notes that this measure is a work in progress.  In particular, your Committee acknowledges an issue raised by the Department of Taxation concerning the applicable time period for implementing the tax credit established in this measure.  Your Committee encourages the proponents of the measure to continue to work with the Department of Taxation on this and other issues in the measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of consistency, clarity, and style.

 

     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 S.B. No. 403, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 403, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair