Health Care in Hawaii: Implications for National Reform (Testimony,
03/16/94, GAO/T-HEHS-94-123).

For nearly 20, years, Hawaii has been a leader in the effort to achieve
universal access to health insurance. It is the only state that requires
employers to provide a minimum level of health insurance benefits to
employees, and its public programs cover many residents lacking
employment-based insurance. GAO makes several points. First, Hawaii's
employer mandate did not have a harmful effect on small businesses.
Second, although Hawaii's system of near-universal access has lowered
health premiums, its per capita health care costs have risen at a rate
similar to the national average. Third, Hawaii's experience suggests
that an employer mandate by itself will not necessarily result in
universal access to health care.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-94-123
     TITLE:  Health Care in Hawaii: Implications for National Reform
      DATE:  03/16/94
   SUBJECT:  Health insurance
             Insurance premiums
             Employee medical benefits
             Health care services
             Health care cost control
             State-administered programs
             Comparative analysis
             Health insurance cost control
             State law
             National policies
IDENTIFIER:  Hawaii
             Medicaid Program
             Hawaii State Health Insurance Program
             Health QUEST Project (HI)
             National Health Care Reform Initiative
             Clinton Health Care Plan
             Health Security Act
             
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