STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3510

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 196

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial impacts of requiring coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in the policies, plans, and contracts of health insurance and related products as mandated by S.B. No. 2532, S.D. 1 (2008).

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communications Access Board, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Autism Speaks, and the Autism Society of Hawaii.

 

     Private health insurers are denying coverage of therapies that may be necessary or effective for the treatment of autism.  The failure to provide coverage is thought to produce lower short-term insurance costs at the expense of higher long-term health care costs.

 

     A review by the Auditor of this measure is required by law as a condition of enactment, and will be helpful to the Legislature in resolving this matter.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair