STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1979

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.C.R. No. 26
                                     S.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred S.C.R. No. 26, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO
     STUDY THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING THE
     INCLUSION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY WITHIN MENTAL
     HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT INSURANCE
     BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that
the Legislative Auditor assess the social and financial effects
of mandating that marriage and family therapy be included as a
mental health and alcohol or drug abuse treatment insurance
benefit under section 431M, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this
concurrent resolution from the Hawai'i Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy, Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii,
Benefit Capital Financial Services, Inc., many marriage and
family therapists, and other concerned individuals including
physicians and counselors.  The Hawaii Psychological Association
submitted testimony requesting that this concurrent resolution be
held in committee.

     Your Committee received testimony that marriage and family
therapy is a specialty concerned with the health of families, and
not included in any other mental health licenses.  Your Committee
also heard that including marriage and family therapists as

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1979
                                 Page 2

 
insurance reimbursable providers under chapter 431M will benefit
the State because the State would not have to bear the cost of
insurer reimbursed marriage and family therapist services
provided under the Felix consent decree.  There was also
testimony that marriage and family therapists would not only
expand the range of appropriate services available to the poor
under Med Quest, and to the community in general, but would also
provide consumers with a less costly alternative to specialized
psychiatric services.

     Your Committee finds that the study required by this
concurrent resolution will enable the Legislature to better
assess these statements and will provide a firm basis for any
future legislation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of S.C.R. No. 26, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to
the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair