Railing against a potential conflict of interest, a group of consumer groups and community organizations called for a House committee today to amend a bill to exclude representatives of three health insurers appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to a federally mandated health insurance exchange.
The consumer advocates said during a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda that allowing Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Hawaii Dental Service to remain on the 11-member exchange board would be a conflict of interest because they will have a direct financial stake in decisions of the exchange, known as the Hawaii Health Connector. The consumer groups said as many as 100,000 Hawaii residents are currently without health insurance and that the exchange, due to begin in January 2014, would represent a new market valued at an estimated $300 million.
The representative of a fourth health plan provider, Ohana Health Plan, withdrew his name as a nominee today after accepting a position at Kaiser.
Consumer advocates said the alleged conflict would prevent the insurers from acting in the public interest and said that the insurers could be more fairly utilized as technical consultants but not actual members of the board. A hearing on SB2434 was heard today by the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/143424236.html
Hat Tip: Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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