STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3589

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1897

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF HEALTH SCREENINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require insurers in the State to provide insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease annual screenings.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that early detection of sexually transmitted diseases contributes significantly to the proper treatment and prevention of further transmission of these diseases.  Many individuals lack access to screening for sexually transmitted diseases despite federal law requiring health insurance to cover these screenings without any patient cost sharing.  Your Committee notes that recent estimates suggest that almost one in eight persons with human immunodeficiency virus are unaware of their status.  Providing Hawaii's citizens with additional access to annual screenings for sexually transmitted diseases will result in health status awareness, earlier disease detection and treatment, and a decrease in transmission rates.

     Should a Conference Committee choose to consider this measure, your Committee requests that the Standing Committees with subject matter jurisdiction over this measure continue to work with the various stakeholders on refining the specifics of the measure for preparation of a final Conference Draft.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair