THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	17
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

MANDATING COVERAGE OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE THREE.

     WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, consistent access to a wide range of services is particularly important for children with special health care needs; and

     WHEREAS, children with special health care needs require access to a wide range of medical and support services to maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and developmental health; and

     WHEREAS, early intervention services can often prevent or ameliorate the effects of illnesses, conditions, injuries, and disabilities that would otherwise have a devastating impact on affected children and their families; and

     WHEREAS, according to The Arc of the United States, research and successful practical experience has established that early intervention services have a positive impact on quality of life and community participation for children with special health care needs and their families; and

     WHEREAS, early intervention services for children with special health care needs are a sound investment that yields positive returns, both developmentally and economically; and

     WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services' National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, one-third of families with health insurance coverage say that their coverage does not provide adequate, affordable access to the services required for their children with special health care needs; 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 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, 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, S.B. No. 795 (2009) has been introduced in the Legislature and mandates that health insurers provide coverage for medically necessary early intervention services for infants and toddlers from birth to age three, effective July 1, 2009; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, 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 health insurance coverage for medically necessary early intervention services for infants and toddlers from birth to age three, effective as of July 1, 2009 as provided in S.B. No. 795 (2009); and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to review and report findings on the benefits and services mandated by relevant state and federal laws, services currently provided by the State, and funding the State receives from the federal government to provide these services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; 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: 

Mandatory Coverage, Early Intervention Services, Auditor