STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1010

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 51

       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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 51 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Autism Behavior Consulting Group, Inc.; Autism Speaks; Community Children's Council of Hawaii; and sixteen private individuals.

     Your Committee finds that autism spectrum disorders are medical conditions that should be treated in the same manner as other diseases and conditions for the purposes of health insurance coverage.  Your Committee also finds that early and comprehensive treatment of autism spectrum disorders can alleviate symptoms such as communication and behavioral difficulties so that they are not disabling.  Your Committee further finds that existing health insurance coverage does not include the necessary range of services to effectively treat autism spectrum disorders.  Finally, your Committee finds that although comprehensive treatment can be costly, the cost of not treating autism spectrum disorders is far greater and typically borne primarily by the State in terms of expenditures on special education, public health, and other services throughout the lifetime of individuals with untreated or inadequately treated autism spectrum disorders.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a provision requesting the Auditor to update any previous studies on this issue in light of the increased frequency of diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders and number of states that have enacted legislation mandating insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 51, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 51, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair