STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3134

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2284

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit a health care insurer, mutual benefit society, or health maintenance organization from requiring an insured, subscriber, member, or enrollee diagnosed with stage two through stage four cancer to undergo step therapy prior to covering the insured for the drug prescribed by the insured's health care provider, under certain conditions, for health insurance policies and contracts issued or renewed after December 31, 2020.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Medical Association, Save Medicaid Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Health reports cancer as the second leading cause of death among Hawaii residents, claiming more than two thousand two hundred Hawaii residents each year.  Your Committee further finds that cancer patients should have full access to effective treatment options at early stages of their illnesses.  This measure would prohibit health insurers from requiring step therapy prior to covering the insured for the drug prescribed by the insured's health care provider.  Your Committee further finds that deferring to the treatment decisions of oncologists are in line with national best practice guidelines issued by the American Society of Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

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KARL RHOADS, Chair