STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1408
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.C.R. No. 35
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 35 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR INITIAL MEDICAL VISITS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS, EVEN WHEN SUCH MEDICAL VISITS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS MAY INCLUDE PREVIOUSLY UNDIAGNOSED MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to offer coverage for initial medical visits and psychological assessments, even when such medical visits and psychological assessments may include previously undiagnosed medical and psychological conditions.
The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) and Hawaii Psychological Association testified in support of this measure. HMSA testified that it already covers initial medical visits and psychological assessments.
Your Committee finds that:
(1) Initial medical visits and psychological assessments often reveal conditions that have just emerged, have never been caught before, or for which the patients have never sought help;
(2) Health insurers often refuse to provide coverage for initial medical visits and psychological assessments when such medical visits and psychological assessments include previously undiagnosed medical and psychological conditions; and
(3) Pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, mandates for additional health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group insurance policies require the passage of concurrent resolutions 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.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 35 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
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____________________________ KENNETH HIRAKI, Chair |