RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, ninety per cent of all cases of human immunodeficiency virus are contracted via sexually transmitted diseases; and

WHEREAS, fifty per cent of teenagers between the ages of fifteen and nineteen have reported having had at least one sexual experience; and

WHEREAS, twenty-five per cent of all sexually transmitted diseases are contracted by teenagers; and

WHEREAS, having contracted a sexually transmitted disease greatly increases the probability of contracting another sexually transmitted disease; and

WHEREAS, women are biologically more susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted diseases; and

WHEREAS, sexually transmitted diseases often lead to the development of cervical cancer in women, which is the second leading cause of death in women of reproductive age worldwide; and

WHEREAS, aside from suffering the deleterious effects of sexually transmitted diseases, both women and men are also carriers of these diseases; and

WHEREAS, not knowing that one is a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease creates the potential for an epidemic; and

WHEREAS, examination for sexually transmitted diseases is not a routine part of a man's physical examination nor a woman's gynecological examination; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that "[b]efore any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51 further provides that "[t]he concurrent resolutions shall designate a specific legislative bill that:

(1) Has been introduced in the legislature; and

(2) Includes, at a minimum, information identifying the:

1. Specific health service, disease, or provider that would be covered;

(B) Extent of the coverage;

(C) Target groups that would be covered;

(D) Limits on utilization, if any; and

(E) Standards of care.

For purposes of this part, mandated health insurance coverage shall not include mandated optionals"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, further specifies the minimum information required for assessing the social and financial impact of the proposed health coverage mandate in the Auditor's report; and

WHEREAS, H.B. No.     (2003) mandates coverage of examination for sexually transmitted diseases for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for examination for sexually transmitted diseases, as provided in H.B. No.     (2003), will substantially reduce illness and assist in the maintenance of good health for the people of this State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment report, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial impacts of mandating coverage of examination for sexually transmitted diseases for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2003, as provided in H.B. No.     (2003); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor.

Report Title:

Mandatory Health Coverage; Sexually Transmitted Diseases