STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1290

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 10

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 10, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT ON LEGISLATION MANDATING COVERAGE OF PALLIATIVE CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report on legislation mandating health insurance coverage for palliative care.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from Ann Frost, President, Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association.

     Your Committee finds that palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on the relief or management of pain, stress, and other debilitating symptoms of serious or chronic disease.  Mandatory insurance coverage for palliative care would eliminate financial barriers to these treatments and encourage the inclusion of palliative care in mainstream health care practices.

This measure requests the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurance coverage for palliative care as proposed under S.B. No. 941 (2011), pursuant to the procedural requirements under sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for legislation proposing mandatory health insurance coverage.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 10, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair