|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
53 |
|
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
RESOLUTION
requesting the auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to offer coverage for marriage and family therapists' SERVICES WITHIN MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS.
WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists assist individuals and families with emotional, behavioral, and relationship problems; and
WHEREAS, therapists help people with childhood and adolescent problems, marriages in crisis, families needing assistance with senior parents, and provide assistance in the areas of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, and substance abuse; and
WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists work in private practice, hospitals, schools, colleges, court systems, community mental health centers, health maintenance organizations, and employee assistance programs; and
WHEREAS, the National Institute of Mental Health has recognized the field of marriage and family therapy as one of the five core mental health disciplines along with psychiatry, psychology, clinical social work, and psychiatric nursing; and
WHEREAS, chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), defines marriage and family therapy practice as "the application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques to diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and nervous disorders within the context of an individual's relationships"; and
WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), 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, HRS, 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:
(A) 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, S.B. No. 1228 (2005) mandates coverage of marriage and family therapists for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for marriage and family therapists, as provided in S.B. No. 1228 (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 examination by marriage and family therapists for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts, as provided in S.B. No. 1228 (2005); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, at least 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:
Mandated Coverage; Marriage and Family Therapists (HD1)