STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2778

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2631

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2631, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders by all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Academy of Physicians, Papa Ola Lokahi - Native Hawaiian Health Board, Autism Speaks, Autism Behavior Consulting Group, and ten individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and Hawaii Financial Services Association.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the American Council of Life Insurers.

     Your Committee acknowledges the seriousness of autism spectrum disorders and recognizes the impacts that these disorders have on patients and their families.  However, your Committee finds that recent changes in insurance and health care law may affect the availability of the coverage required by this measure in ways that are not clear, and further study is needed.

Your Committee notes that, in 2009, the Auditor submitted to the Governor and the Legislature a report entitled Study of the Social and Financial Impacts of Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Accordingly, your Committee requests that the Auditor update this 2009 report based upon the services proposed by this measure and in light of the changes to insurance coverage required by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2631, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2631, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair