STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1535

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 154

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 154, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TOBACCO USE CESSATION TREATMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers in Hawaii to cover tobacco use cessation treatments.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Tobacco-Free Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that smoking is costly to employers and the State in terms of smoking-related medical expenses and lost productivity.  Your Committee further finds that smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.  Tobacco use cessation treatments that include counseling are more effective at helping people stop using tobacco products than the mere provision of educational or self-help materials.

     Senate Bill No. 654 (2013) mandates all individuals and group accident and health or sickness insurance policies to provide tobacco use cessation treatment coverage with no copayment, deductible, or coinsurance restrictions.  Your Committee finds that this concurrent resolution is necessary to fulfill the conditions of section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires a concurrent resolution to be passed to request the Auditor to submit an assessment to the Legislature of the social and financial effects of any mandated health insurance benefit.

     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. 154, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair