RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, screening individuals who display risky behavior for substance abuse, and referring people to substance abuse treatment, if needed, are remarkably effective techniques to reduce alcohol and drug problems; and

WHEREAS, contrary to the findings that screening is an effective means of reducing alcohol and drug abuse, laws in over 30 states allow insurance companies to refuse to pay for emergency room care if physicians discover alcohol abuse; and

WHEREAS, doctors are not paid to screen for alcohol and drug abuse in the same way that they are for other common conditions like diabetes and depression, and therefore many may choose not to do so; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), requires that "Before 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, HRS, further provides that "The 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, HRS, 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. 286 (2005) mandates coverage for alcohol and drug abuse screening when provided in an emergency room 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, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for alcohol and drug abuse screening when provided in an emergency room, as provided in H.B. No. 286 (2005), 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-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment report, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, HRS, of the social and financial impacts of mandating coverage for alcohol and drug abuse screening when provided in an emergency room 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, 2005, as provided in H.B. No. 286 (2005); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessitating implementation of legislation, 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and to the Insurance Commissioner, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to each insurer in the state that issues health insurance policies.

Report Title:

Mandatory Coverage; Drug/Alcohol Screening