Update:  the bill is still alive, April 5.  According to a report issued at 4 am April 5,

I just came from the decision making by the House Comm on Finance, which passed SB1274 on with amendments.  It was disappointing and frustrating.  Health chair Ryan Yamane came to tell the committee that they were waiting for “language” to preserve the consumer protections in our existing law, but have not received any (my language recommendations don’t count – who knows, make up your own reasons). They are waiting on the Insurance Commissioner and the Abercrombie Administration.  THERE ISN’T GOING TO BE ANY LANGUAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER.  IF HE DOES NOT SUBMIT ANY, THEY WILL PASS THE BILL AS IT STANDS, SO WHY WOULD HE SUBMIT ANY?

MORE ALARMING STILL IS THE FACT THAT NO LEGISLATOR HAS YET RESPONDED TO THE OBJECTIONS TO THE EXCLUSION OF MEDICAID MEMBERS FROM THE EXTERNAL REVIEW.  THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME.  NEVERCARE IS A LOT RICHER.

MEDICAID MEMBERS, THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU DO NOT PROTEST, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR RIGHTS NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS (UNLESS THE BILL IS KILLED).

The petition is now going to President Obama as well as our Hawaii legislators.

Hawaii Senate Bill 1274 will take away the best protection our citizens have against health care decisions made on the basis of company profits instead of medical need.

The Administration is proposing to repeal a very popular law protecting health insurance consumers because the health insurers are insisting on repealing those rights because patients have won their appeals 80% of the time.

Obamacare is being  used as an excuse.  We do not agree Washington can force us to repeal our rights.  SB1274 should be killed and we will take on Washington if they try to molest our rights.

Our legislators have been passing the law from committee to committee because the insurers are lobbying so hard for it to be passed. 

This will fall the hardest on the poor and disabled because they will be deprived of rights they now have and will no longer have equal rights.

The Insurance Commissioner admits our existing law is better and does not support repealing the consumer protections the health insurers are lobbying to repeal.

Please sign our petition.