STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1448-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.R. No. 140

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 140 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES TO EXPEDITE THE ADOPTION OF RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 91, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, AND TO OBTAIN ANY FEDERAL WAIVERS, IF NECESSARY, TO DISALLOW MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE CIRCUMCISION FOR NEWBORN MALE INFANTS IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Director of Human Services to adopt rules and obtain any federal waivers, if necessary, to disallow Medicaid coverage for routine circumcision for newborn male infants in Hawaii.

A concerned individual testified in support of this resolution. The Department of Human Services offered comments.

Your Committees have amended this resolution by:

(1) Changing its title to read: "CONVENING A STUDY GROUP TO EXAMINE THE ISSUES OF MEDICAL NECESSITY AND COST FACTORS FOR CONTINUED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF ROUTINE CIRCUMCISION FOR NEWBORN MALE INFANTS IN HAWAII";

(2) Broadening the scope to include all circumcisions, and not just those covered under Medicaid;

(3) Removing the request for the Director of Human Services to adopt rules and obtain necessary federal waivers to disallow Medicaid coverage for routine circumcisions;

(4) Convening a legislative study group, including members from public and private agencies and organizations, to explore the issue of routine infant circumcision with regard to health benefits, medical necessity, and the possibility of healthcare cost-savings by eliminating reimbursements for the procedure; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 140, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 140, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair