STAND. COM. REP. NO.  179

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 727

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 727 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "qualified plan" for purposes of inclusion in the Hawaii Health Connector by requiring that a qualified plan be deemed to be a gold plan or a platinum plan.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Health Connector, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Primary Care Association commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Expanding the definition of qualified plan to include plans deemed to be a silver plan to increase the options for the Small Business Health Options Program; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage continued discussion.

Your Committee notes that inclusion of the silver plan under the definition of a qualified plan in the Hawaii marketplace is intended to provide insurance customers in the State with a range of price and benefit options and bring the health insurance options available through the Hawaii Health Connector into accord with the range of options required under the federal law.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 727, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair