STAND. COM. REP. NO.  952-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2727

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2727, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to provide children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders with access to appropriate medical care and treatment by requiring health insurers to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders.

 

     Autism Speaks, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Autism Society of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed this measure.  The Department of Health opposed this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Medical Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and the Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2727, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2727, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair