STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1429

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 65

       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. 65, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct an assessment on the social and financial impacts of mandating coverage for hearing aids under the policies and plans of health insurers and like entities as proposed under S.B. No. 309, S.D. 1 (2013).

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

     Your Committee finds that while some degree of hearing loss is common among the elderly, Medicare and most private insurers do not cover the cost of hearing aids.

     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. 65, 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