Bill Text: HI HR63 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requesting The Insurance Commissioner To Assess The Adequacy Of The Physician Networks On All Islands Of The State.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-04-05 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR63 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HR63-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	63
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF THE PHYSICIAN NETWORKS ON ALL ISLANDS OF THE STATE.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, there is a significant shortage of physicians in the State, particularly on the neighbor islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, this shortage has been verified through the canvassing of physicians in Hawaii in the annual physician workforce assessment, which the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii submits to the Legislature pursuant to Act 18, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, as amended by Act 186, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, as amended by Act 40, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017; and

 

     WHEREAS, members of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii considered legislation to encourage an increase in the number of physicians providing care to the State's population; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Hawaii, through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, has submitted proposed legislation regulating health provider network adequacy requirements; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act placed on insurance providers the responsibility of maintaining adequate networks of health care providers; and

 

     WHEREAS, insurance providers in Hawaii declare existing health provider networks to be adequate; and

 

     WHEREAS, patients, particularly those living on neighbor islands, contend that they experience extended wait times for physician appointments because of a shortage of physicians within a convenient geographic range; and

     WHEREAS, patients who live on neighbor islands contend that they are required to make regular airline trips to Oahu, at significant personal cost, to receive specialty care because of a lack of specialist physicians on their home islands; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Insurance Commissioner is requested to assess the adequacy of the physician networks serving Medicaid/QUEST and EUTF covered patients on all islands of the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in preparing the assessment, the Insurance Commissioner is requested to seek cooperation and information from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and the comprehensive health insurance providers in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Insurance Commissioner is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2019; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Commissioner, Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, President of Hawaii Medical Service Association, President of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and President of Hawaii Medical Association.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Insurance Commissioner; Physician Workforce Assessment; Health Providers