Bill Text: HI HB2728 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Healthcare.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-08 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Nakashima, Nishimoto, Sayama, Ward excused (4). [HB2728 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2728-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2728
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's residents deserve universal and equitable access to affordable, high‑quality healthcare.  The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, enacted in 1974; state health insurance program, enacted in 1989; and the State's successful medquest program are examples of Hawaii's tradition of innovation in healthcare system reform.  However, further reforms are needed to address current gaps in residents' access to healthcare and health insurance.  In 2024, approximately eighty thousand Hawaii residents are uninsured.

     The legislature recognizes that many of the State's residents face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare and health insurance.  These include high insurance costs for individuals and employers; confusing regulatory and administrative requirements; clear disparities in health outcomes and quality of care; and growing stresses on the healthcare workforce.  Addressing these barriers requires the State to make a renewed commitment to guaranteeing universal healthcare and health insurance coverage, streamlining administrative costs, and modernizing Hawaii's health system.

     The legislature also recognizes that the state health planning and development agency was established to administer state health planning and cost containment activities.  The agency is also the designated recipient of the data necessary to understand healthcare costs, quality of care issues, community health conditions, and healthcare disparities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a task force, known as Hui Hoomana, to identify actionable priorities and financial resources to offer the State's residents universal and equitable access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and health insurance.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established the Hui Hoomana task force, to be led by the state health planning and development agency in coordination with the department of health, department of human services, and insurance commissioner.  The task force shall comprise the following voting members; provided that non‑governmental members shall be invited by the chair of the task force to participate:

     (1)  The administrator of the state health planning and development agency, or the administrator's designee;

     (2)  The director of health, or the director's designee;

     (3)  The director of human services, or the director's designee;

     (4)  The insurance commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;

     (5)  The president of the Hawaii chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, or the president's designee;

     (6)  The president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

     (7)  The president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Inc., Hawaii Region, or the president's designee;

     (8)  The president and chief executive officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

     (9)  The chief executive officer of the Hawaii Primary Care Association, or the chief executive officer's designee;

    (10)  The executive director of the Hawaii Medical Association, or the executive director's designee;

    (11)  The president of the Hawaii Nurses' Association, or the president's designee;

    (12)  The president and chief executive officer of The Queen's Health System, or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

    (13)  The president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Pacific Health, or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

    (14)  The president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

    (15)  The chair and president of the Accountable Health Care Alliance of Rural Oahu, or the chair and president's designee;

    (16)  The chief executive officer of Papa Ola Lokahi, or the chief executive officer's designee;

    (17)  The chief executive officer of AlohaCare, or the chief executive officer's designee;

    (18)  The administrator of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, or the administrator's designee;

    (19)  The state director of AARP Hawaii, or the state director's designee;

    (20)  The dean of the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine, or the dean's designee;

    (21)  The president of the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, or the president's designee; and

    (22)  One member from each county, to be selected by the county's respective mayor.

     (b)  The following shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members:

     (1)  The governor's chief of staff, or the chief of staff's designee;

     (2)  The chair of the senate committee on health and human services, or the chair's designee;

     (3)  The chair of the house of representatives committee on health and homelessness, or the chair's designee;

     (4)  Two members selected by the state health planning and development agency from its statewide health coordinating council or its plan development committee;

     (5)  The director of public safety, or the director's designee;

     (6)  One member from the department of health's office of primary care and rural health, selected by the director of health;

     (7)  The administrator of the executive office on aging, or the administrator's designee;

     (8)  The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee;

     (9)  The superintendent of the Hawaii department of education, or the superintendent's designee; and

    (10)  The director of commerce and consumer affairs, or the director's designee.

     (c)  At the initial meeting of the Hui Hoomana task force, which shall occur no later than thirty days after the effective date of this Act, its members shall elect a chair, vice chair, and any other necessary officers from among its members.

     (d)  A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum to do business.

     (e)  The Hui Hoomana task force shall meet at least quarterly but may meet as often as the members consider necessary.

     (f)  The task force shall develop:

     (1)  A comprehensive plan, including a prioritized list of actionable tasks, for the State to offer universal access to high-quality healthcare and health insurance at costs that are affordable for individuals, employers, state and county governments, and unions;

     (2)  A strategy and timeline for carrying out the actionable tasks identified in the comprehensive plan; and

     (3)  A financial plan for securing the private, state, and federal funding needed to implement the comprehensive plan.

     (g)  Members of the Hui Hoomana task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (h)  The Hawaii state health planning and development agency shall submit a preliminary report of the task force's findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

     (i)  The Hawaii state health planning and development agency shall submit a final report of the task force's findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

     (j)  The task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2026.

     SECTION 3.  It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal assistance or aid.  If this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

 

 

Report Title:

Healthcare; Health Insurance; Hui Hoomana Task Force; Reports

 

Description:

Establishes the Hui Hoomana task force to identify actionable priorities and financial resources to offer the State's residents universal access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and health insurance.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Dissolves the task force on 7/1/2026.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.