STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1287

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 3

       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. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial impacts of mandating health insurance coverage for hearing aids under hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans.

     Your Committee received no comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that hearing aids are costly and most health insurers do not provide coverage for them.  Accordingly, mandated insurance coverage would make hearing aids more affordable to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

     This measure requests the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of mandatory health insurance coverage for hearing aids as proposed under S.B. No. 894, S.D. 1 (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. 3, 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