HB 164 Summary

• Authorizes the Hawaii Health Authority to continue planning for a universal, publicly-administered health-care-for-all insurance model with a single payout agency and report to the governor and legislature at appropriate intervals.

• Appropriates $350,000 for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to the Hawaii Health Authority for general administration, including hiring an executive director and staff exempt from civil service.

• Establishes a rate stabilization reserve fund within the employer-union health benefits trust fund to cover increasing costs of health and benefit plans for active employees, retirees, and beneficiaries.

• Caps public employer prefunding contributions to the other post-employment benefits trust fund once combined account balances reach $2,000,000,000, with investment earnings thereafter transferred to the rate stabilization reserve fund.

• Authorizes the Hawaii Health Authority to contract for healthcare benefits to state and county employees using a self-insured model and directs examination of cost savings from converting the employer-union health benefits trust fund from fully insured to self-insured status.