THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

15

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR smoking cessation programs.

 

 

WHEREAS, smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 430,700 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and some of the victims of "secondhand" exposure to tobacco's carcinogens; and

WHEREAS, smoking costs the United States approximately $97,200,000,000 each year in health care costs and lost productivity; and

WHEREAS, smoking is directly responsible for eighty-seven per cent of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and

WHEREAS, smoking has also been indicated as a major factor in coronary heart disease and stroke. It may be causally related to malignancies in other parts of the body and has been linked to a variety of other conditions and disorders, including slowed healing of wounds, infertility, and peptic ulcer disease; and

WHEREAS, in addition, smoking by parents is also associated with a wide range of adverse effects in their children, including exacerbation of asthma, increased frequency of colds and ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome; and

WHEREAS, an estimated one hundred fifty thousand to three hundred thousand cases of lower respiratory tract infections in children less than eighteen months of age, resulting in seven thousand five hundred to fifteen thousand annual hospitalizations, are caused by secondhand smoke; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that "[b]efore any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51 further provides that "[t]he concurrent resolutions shall designate a specific legislative bill that:

(1) Has been introduced in the legislature; and

(2) Includes, at a minimum, information identifying the:

(A) Specific health service, disease, or provider that would be covered;

(B) Extent of the coverage;

(C) Target groups that would be covered;

(D) Limits on utilization, if any; and

(E) Standards of care.

For purposes of this part, mandated health insurance coverage shall not include mandated optionals"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, further specifies the minimum information required for assessing the social and financial impact of the proposed health coverage mandate in the Auditor's report; and

WHEREAS, H.B. No.        (2004) mandates coverage for smoking cessation programs for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2004; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for smoking cessation programs, as provided in H.B. No.        (2004), will substantially reduce illness and assist in the maintenance of good health for the people of this State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment report, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial impacts of mandating coverage for smoking cessation programs for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2004, as provided in H.B. No.        (2004); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and to the Insurance Commissioner, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to each insurer in the State that issues health insurance policies.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Smoking Cessation Program; Auditor's Study