STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2657

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2657
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 2657, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enable persons with
diabetes to more effectively manage their disease.

     Testimony on the measure was submitted by the Insurance
Commissioner, American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Advocacy
Alliance of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Diabetes Educators,
American Family Life Assurance Company, and numerous individuals.  
     
     The American Diabetes Association estimates that the cost of
care attributable to diabetes in the United States is
$100,000,000,000 per year.  Your Committee finds that educating
persons with diabetes on the management of their condition and
providing them with the supplies necessary to undertake self-
management will help to prevent complications of the disease and
reduce the cost of care.  This measure will enable persons with
diabetes to receive the tools necessary for self-management by
requiring coverage for diabetes outpatient self-management
training and supplies under health insurance policies and
contracts. 

     Upon careful consideration, your Committee has amended this
measure by:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2657
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     (1)  Clarifying that coverage for diabetes self-management
          training and supplies is mandated under a person's
          primary health insurance, and is not required under
          supplemental and limited benefit policies;

     (2)  Exempting the requirements established in this Act from
          a sunrise review pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52,
          Hawaii Revised Statutes; and 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style, and to reflect existing
          language in the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2657, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto
as S.B. No. 2657, S.D. 2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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