Report Title:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Mandatory Coverage

Description:

Mandates coverage of examination for sexually transmitted diseases for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and HMO plans and contracts issued after 12/31/2003. Effective 7/1/2003.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

893

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO mandatory health coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that ninety per cent of all cases of human immunodeficiency virus are contracted via sexually transmitted diseases and fifty per cent of teenagers between the ages of fifteen and nineteen have reported having had at least one sexual experience. Furthermore, twenty-five per cent of all sexually transmitted diseases are contracted by teenagers. Having contracted a sexually transmitted disease greatly increases the probability of contracting another. Women are biologically more susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted diseases, the contracting of which often leads to the development of cervical cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in women of reproductive age worldwide. Aside from suffering the deleterious effects of sexually transmitted diseases, both women and men are also carriers of these diseases. Examination for sexually transmitted diseases is not a routine part of a man's physical examination nor a woman's gynecological examination, which increases greatly the potential for an epidemic.

The purpose of this Act is to require health insurance policies in the State to provide coverage for examination of sexually transmitted diseases.

SECTION 2. Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to article 10A to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§431:10A-    Coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases. Each policy of accident and health or sickness insurance issued or renewed in this State after December 31, 2003, each employer group health policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued or renewed in this State after December 31, 2003, all health insurance policies issued or renewed in this State after December 31, 2003, all policies providing family coverage as defined in section 431:10A-103, and all policies providing reciprocal beneficiary family coverage as defined in section 431:10A-601 shall provide coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases."

SECTION 3. Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§432-    Coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases. All individual and group hospital and medical service plan contracts and medical service corporation contracts issued or renewed after December 31, 2003, under this chapter shall provide coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases."

SECTION 4. Section 432D-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§432D-23 Required provisions and benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued in the State after January 1, 1995, by health maintenance organizations pursuant to this chapter, shall include benefits provided in sections 431:10-212, 431:10A-115, 431:10A-115.5, 431:10A-116, 431:10A-116.5, 431:10A-116.6, 431:10A-119, 431:10A-120, [and] 431:10A-121, 431:10A-   , and chapter 431M[.]; provided that benefits provided in section 431:10A-    apply to policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued after December 31, 2003."

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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