STAND. COM. REP. NO.  364

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 309

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Expand coverage of breast cancer screening and imaging to include risk factor screening, additional and supplemental imaging, and baseline mammograms for women between the ages of thirty-five and thirty-nine; and

 

     (2)  Require the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report to assess the social and financial impacts of the proposed mandated coverage and report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2022.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Radiological Society, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, and Hawaii Society of Clinical Oncology.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

 

     Your Committee finds that, on average, women in Hawaii between the ages of forty and forty-nine have a higher incidence of breast cancer compared to the national average.  Your Committee further finds that expanding the coverage and types of coverage of breast cancer screening is in the best interest of public health and will ensure that women with high risk of breast cancer in Hawaii have access to early breast cancer screening.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing language that would have mandated baseline mammograms for women between the ages of thirty-five and thirty-nine from breast cancer screening and imaging coverage; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 309, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair