STAND. COM. REP. NO.  215

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 914

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 914 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that health insurers that provide health care network plans have sufficient practitioners and services to meet the needs of their enrollees or members.  This measure is based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Model Act, as modified by a working group convened by the Insurance Commissioner.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Lanai Community Health Center, Hawaii College of Emergency Physicians, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and Hawaii Medical Service Association.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Aligning the language of the measure more closely with the language and intent of the Model Act by:

          (A)  Providing the Insurance Commissioner with discretion in determining sufficiency of a health care provider network;

          (B)  Clarifying that a health insurance carrier shall be responsible for ensuring that providers are furnishing covered benefits; and

          (C)  Inserting new language regarding requirements for filing documents with the Insurance Commissioner, providing documents to the Commissioner for regulatory purposes, and execution and content of contracts;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2090, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

     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. 914, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 914, 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,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair