Bill Text: HI SB2494 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Health Insurance; Drug Coverage; EUTF; Telehealth; Medicaid; QUEST

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-21 - (H) Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-23-10 1:00PM in conference room 229. [SB2494 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2494-Amended.html

---

 

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  880-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2494

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2494, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to:

 

(1)  Provide continuity in health care by requiring the Board of Trustees (Board) of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to offer an eligible employee-beneficiary or dependent-beneficiary coverage for prescription drug benefits that is identical to the coverage provided under the employee-beneficiary's or dependent-beneficiary's current plan (Part I); and

 

(2)  Improve access to the full range of health care services to Medicaid and QUEST members, by prohibiting the Department of Human Services (DHS) from requiring:

 

(1)  Approval from DHS for a health plan under Medicaid or QUEST programs to deliver services using a telehealth service; or

 

(2)  In-person visits to qualify any telehealth service for coverage under Medicaid or QUEST programs (Part II).

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported Part II of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill.  DHS opposed Part II of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association and the American Cancer Society submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying in Part I that the written explanation of benefits provided to EUTF beneficiaries is issued by the Board or Pharmacy Benefits Manager; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2494, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2494, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

		____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair