STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1306

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1034

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1034, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the existing mandatory health insurance coverage for low-dose mammography includes coverage for digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis.

 

     The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Radiological Society, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans provided comments.

 

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

 

     Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that the addition of coverage for digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis to the existing requirement for insurance coverage of low-dose mammography may constitute a new insurance mandate subject to an Auditor's sunrise analysis.  Your Committee further notes that the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund testified that employee and retiree claims under the mandatory coverage contained in this measure may increase the unfunded liability of the State and the counties by $2,400,000.

 

     Your Committee is concerned about patient and provider exposure to radiation.  Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce examine the issue of patient education about the radiation dosage associated with digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis, should that Committee consider this measure further.

 

     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 S.B. No. 1034, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1034, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair