STAND. COM. REP. NO. 808

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 860
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 860 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to include marriage and family
therapists as mental health and substance abuse treatment
providers under health insurance plans.

     Currently, state law does not recognize marriage and family
therapists as mental health and substance abuse treatment
providers for insurance benefits coverage purposes.  Therefore,
those with health insurance who need the services of a marriage
and family therapist must pay in full or go without. 

     This bill would rectify that situation, offer consumers more
treatment options, and help develop private sector mental health
and substance abuse treatment opportunities in underserved areas
of the State.  It would also allow the Department of Education to
seek third party reimbursement for services provided to special
needs students by licensed marriage and family therapists
pursuant to the Felix-Waihee consent decree.  Finally, this bill
would create parity among the core mental health professions
since physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers, and
advanced practice registered nurses are presently authorized to

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 808
                                   Page 2


provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services
under health insurance plans and contracts.

     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 S.B. No.
860 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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