SCR39

WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society reports that, last year in the United States, more than 559,650 people died of some form of cancer, and in Hawaii, 2,260 people died of cancer; and

WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society also reports that approximately 1,440,920 new cases of cancer were diagnosed last year in the United States; and

WHEREAS, last year in Hawaii, 6,020 new cases of cancer were diagnosed, and cancers of the breast, colon and rectum, prostate, and lungs made up the majority of those new cases; and

WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society also estimates that over ten million cancer survivors in the United States are alive today because of successful treatments; and

WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that health insurance providers cover all forms of necessary treatments for cancer patients in this State; 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, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 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;

(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. (2008) mandates coverage of all forms of cancer treatment 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, 2009; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for all forms of cancer treatment, as provided in H.B. No. (2008), 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 Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives 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 all forms of cancer treatment 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, 2009, as provided in H.B. No. (2008); and December 31, 2009

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that 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 2009; 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.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Insurance; Cancer Treatment; Mandatory Coverage

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	39
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII