STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1637-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2054

      S.D. 3

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2054, S.D. 3, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure the provision of quality health care for all Hawaii residents by, among other things:

 

(1)  Requiring health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders up to a maximum benefit of $50,000 per year and a maximum lifetime benefit of $300,000, with adjustments for inflation, for individuals under 18 years of age;

 

(2)  Requiring the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization to contract for the performance of an actuarial analysis of the projected costs of providing insurance coverage for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders; and

 

(3)  Appropriating funds to contract for the performance of the actuarial analysis.

 

     The Department of Health; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Special Education Advisory Council; Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; KJN Corporation; Hino's Hairstyles; BAYADA Home Health Care; UNITE HERE, Local 5; and numerous individuals supported this measure.  Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Services; Department of Budget and Finance; University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization; Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; Autism Speaks; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Community Children's Council of Hawaii; Kaiser Permanente Hawaii; and numerous individuals commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Inserting blank amounts for the maximum yearly benefit and the maximum lifetime benefit;

 

(2)  Inserting an unspecified age limit for required coverage; and

 

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

 

     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 S.B. No. 2054, S.D. 3, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2054, S.D. 3, H.D. 3.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair