STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3493

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 100

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 100 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY TREATMENT OF OROFACIAL ANOMALIES,"

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 to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of orofacial anomalies as proposed under H.B. No. 2522, which was introduced in the Regular Session of 2014.

     Your Committee did not receive any written comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that mandatory health insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of orofacial anomalies, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, will substantially offset the financial hardship on families of children who require these treatments.  Your Committee also recognizes that health insurance coverage for these treatments will reduce compromised reconstructive surgical outcomes and contribute to good health for children born with orofacial abnormalities.

     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 H.C.R. No. 100, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair