STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1775-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.C.R. No. 177

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 177, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON REQUIRING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to:

     (1)  Assess the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on the proposal in Senate Bill No. 2631, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2012, to require insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by insurers;

     (2)  Analyze the cost of providing insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders in Hawaii;

     (3)  Report information on the recommended clinical guidelines made by medical societies for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders; and

     (4)  Provide information on the reported clinical effectiveness of treatments for autism spectrum disorders that are covered by insurance in states that mandate coverage for autism treatments.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Autism Speaks, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Special Education Advisory Council, and several individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association supported this measure with amendments.  The Legislative Reference Bureau offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Expanding the scope of the measure to include an assessment of the impact that an autism spectrum disorder coverage mandate would have on programs financed by the State to include programs such as the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and QUEST programs;

     (2)  Expanding the list of organizations from which to report information on recommended clinical guidelines to include the United States Surgeon General, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Research Council; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 177, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 177, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair