STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1292

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 8

       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. 8, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

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 naturopathic medicine.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from Michael Traub, Legislative Committee Chairperson, Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians; David Kern, Medical Director of Grace Health Clinics and President of Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians; Dr. Sarah Strong, ND, Hilo Natural Health Clinic; Darrow Hand; Ian Cholewa; K McGlone; Allison Bachlet; and Miles Greenberg.

     This measure requests the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health coverage for naturopathic medicine as proposed under S.B. No. 122, S.D. 2 (2011), pursuant to the procedural requirements under sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for legislation proposing mandatory health insurance coverage.

     Your Committee finds that naturopathic medicine is an effective alternative health care system that uses a wide range of approaches such as nutrition, herbs, manipulation of the body, exercise, stress reduction, and acupuncture.  In Hawaii, naturopathic medicine is a mandatory reimbursable expense under workers' compensation insurance and a personal injury benefit under automobile insurance policies.  However, health insurance policies in Hawaii are not required to cover naturopathic medicine.  This measure complies with state law that requires the social and financial effects of such a requirement to be assessed prior to mandating health insurance coverage for naturopathic care.

     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. 8, 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