Bill Text: HI HB561 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: QUEST; Health Insurance; Department of Human Services

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB561 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB561-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 899

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 561

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 561, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require QUEST or QUEST-Net contracted programs to notify the Department of Human Services when QUEST or QUEST-Net enrollees are also covered by private health insurance; and

 

     (2)  Ensure that private insurance is the primary payor of medical claims for persons who have health insurance coverage through QUEST or QUEST-Net programs and a private health insurance plan.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that there are persons who receive health insurance coverage through the State's QUEST or QUEST-Net program that also have private health insurance coverage.  Your Committee further finds that providing benefits from a publicly‑funded QUEST or QUEST-Net program when a person can afford private health insurance is contrary to the intent of the QUEST programs and should be prevented.  Your Committee recognizes that QUEST providers currently notify the Department of Human Services when they discover that a member also has private insurance and that QUEST is the payor of last resort.  Your Committee believes, however, that it is necessary to clearly delineate this protocol in statute.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2055, to allow for further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 561, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 561, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair