STAND. COM. REP. NO.  970

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 654

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 654, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the cessation of tobacco use among individuals by:

     (1)  Mandating health insurance coverage for tobacco use cessation treatments; and

     (2)  Requiring insurers to provide policy holders or subscribers information about tobacco use cessation treatment coverage.

The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, Hawaii COPD Coalition, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Health and Kaiser Permanente testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

     Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Finance examine the issues raised by the Hawaii Medical Service Association specifically, whether the coverage mandate contained in this measure will result in a mandate that the State cover the cost of these newly required services pursuant to the federal Affordable Care Act.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 654, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 654, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair