STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3411

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 129

       S.D. 1

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.C.R. No. 129 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT ON LEGISLATION MANDATING CERTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR OUTPATIENT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report on legislation mandating certain health insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs.

     Your Committee finds that legislation has been introduced in Hawaii to require certain health insurance policies to provide coverage for outpatient prescription drugs.  This measure requests the Auditor to evaluate the social and financial impacts of this legislation, as required under sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the consideration of any legislation that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, diseases, or health care providers.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting a reference to the January 1, 2013, start date for mandatory health insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs under the legislation that the Auditor is requested to evaluate, as this legislation is pending the Auditor's report to the 2013 Legislature and would not be enacted until after the commencement of the 2013 Regular Session;

     (2)  Amending the cited language of section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to conform to the statute; and

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

     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. 129, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 129, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair