STAND. COM. REP. NO.  96

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1699

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1699 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR BRAIN INJURIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to provide survivors of traumatic brain injury the opportunity to lead full lives, by requiring insurers, hospital and medical service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide rehabilitation coverage for survivors of brain injuries, including cognitive and neurocognitive therapy, neurobehavioral and neuropsychological testing or treatment, and necessary post-acute transition services or community reintegration services.

 

     The Hawaii Disability Rights Center and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans provided comments.

 

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Commerce and Consumer              Affairs to report to the 2008 Legislature on the                   economic impact of the expanded medical coverage                   required by this bill; and

 

     (2)  Inserting a sunset date of July 1, 2012.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1699, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1699, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair