STAND. COM. REP. NO. 995

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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 8 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 that the Auditor assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to provide coverage for naturopathic medicine as provided in S.B. No. 122, S.D. 2.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, Hilo Natural Health Clinic, and six private individuals.

     Your Committee finds that while some health insurance providers in this State do provide coverage for naturopathic medicine through optional plan riders, most insurers do not.  Your Committee also finds that there is increasing patient demand for naturopathic medical services as part of comprehensive personal health care.  Further, your Committee finds that once the federal Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, insurers will be required to cover naturopathic medical services.  Your Committee finds that it is in the best interest of the State to begin the process now by investigating the impact of mandating insurance coverage for naturopathic care instead of waiting for a federal mandate to impose coverage later.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 8, 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. 8, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair