STAND. COM. REP. NO.  712

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 576

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 576, H.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 of this measure is to assist the State in developing a state innovation waiver in compliance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Focuses the scope of the work of the state innovation waiver task force, established pursuant to Act 158, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, in developing a health care reform plan that meets the requirements for obtaining a state innovation waiver by deleting the requirements that the task force:

          (A)  Examine alternatives, exemptions, or waivers from allowable premium rate variations based on age;

          (B)  Examine the feasibility of providing affordable insurance coverage for uninsured and underinsured persons through brokers and professional employer organizations that include innovations to the State’s Medicaid program; and

          (C)  Include recommendations on the allocation of existing moneys available for health reform and innovation in its interim reports to the Legislature; and

     (2)  Appropriates an unspecified amount to support development of a waiver to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Maui Chamber of Commerce, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported this measure.  The Hawaii Association of Health Plans commented on this measure.

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

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair