STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1954-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.C.R. No. 196

      S.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the auditor to assess the social and financial impacts of requiring health insurers to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in the policies, plans and contracts of health insurance and related products as mandated by S.B. 2532, S.D. 1 (2008).

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Autism Speaks, Autism Society of Hawai'i and a concerned individual supported this concurrent resolution.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair