STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3245

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 196

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 196 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 measure is to request the Auditor 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 the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders 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, 2008, as provided in S.B. No. 2532 (2008).

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Autism Speaks, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that an Auditor's sunrise study is required before health insurance coverage can be mandated for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.  Your Committees further find that S.B. No. 2532, S.D. 1 has been introduced in the Legislature and includes the information required for the Auditor to conduct the study and report requested by this measure.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by clarifying that S.B. No. 2532, S.D. 1, that mandates coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, is the appropriate measure designated by the Legislature for the Auditor's report.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 196, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair