STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1033

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1315

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1315, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to discontinue employer reimbursement of Medicare Part B income related monthly adjustment amounts for certain employees hired after June 30, 2023, and their spouses.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that eliminating the Medicare Part B income related monthly adjustment amounts is consistent with the non-reimbursement for Medicare Part D premiums and will save the State an estimated $400,000,000 over the next thirty years.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, 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. 1315, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1315, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair