STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3805

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 52

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 52, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS BOTH THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE COSTS OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION TO THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES FOR QUALIFYING PATIENTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of proposed mandated health insurance coverage for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for qualifying patients.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that for critically ill patients, immediate treatment and care can make a difference in their survival and recovery rates.  However, in certain unique cases, the medical procedure a patient needs is not available in Hawaii and is only available on the continental United States.  Because time is of the essence, the only viable means of receiving this treatment is transportation by air ambulance.  Your Committee additionally finds that commercial flights are not an option for these patients, who require accompaniment by trained personnel.  Furthermore, the cost of transportation by air ambulance can be a significant financial burden, as these transport airlines, which have highly specialized crews and equipment, cannot operate without upfront payment to cover the high cost of the services they render.

 

     Your Committee further finds that although Medicaid covers the cost of air ambulance transportation to the continental United States, the same coverage is not offered by other health insurance, which creates an inequity in patients' ability to access critically-needed medical treatment.  This measure therefore requests the Auditor to conduct a statutorily-required impact assessment report that assesses the social and financial effects of the mandated health insurance coverage under House Bill No. 687, H.D. 2, Regular Session of 2018, which proposes to require health insurance coverage for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for qualifying patients.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 52, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 52, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair