SCR26.DOC

WHEREAS, appropriate screening can determine whether an individual as young as one year old is at risk for autism and demonstrates that early treatment improves outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Autism Speaks, an autism science and advocacy organization, estimates that one out of every eighty-eight children is diagnosed with some form of autism; and

WHEREAS, Autism Speaks stresses the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services; and

WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has improved the availability of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism; and

WHEREAS, habilitative services would permit individuals with autism to access ongoing services in speech, occupational, and physical therapy when their physician prescribes it; and

WHEREAS, behavioral health treatments such as applied behavior analysis specific to the treatment of autism have not been covered as habilitative services; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that "[b]efore any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, further provides that "[t]he concurrent resolutions shall designate a specific legislative bill that:

(1) Has been introduced in the legislature; and

(2) Includes, at minimum, information identifying the:

(A) Specific health service, disease, or provider that would be covered;

(B) Extent of the coverage;

(D) Limits on utilization, if any; and

(E) Standards of care.

For purposes of this part, mandated health insurance coverage shall not include mandated optional"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, further specifies the minimum information required for assessing the social and financial impact of the proposed health coverage mandate in the Auditor's report; and

WHEREAS, S.B. No. 2578 (Regular Session of 2014) requires individual or group accident and health or sickness insurance policies, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders, as provided in S.B. No. 2578 (Regular Session of 2014), will substantially benefit individuals with autism; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial effects of mandating health insurance coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders pursuant to S.B. No. 2578 (Regular Session of 2014); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Director of Health.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Autism Spectrum Disorders; Mandatory Health Coverage

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	26
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII