STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1155

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 57

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 57 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES,"

beg 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 survivors of traumatic brain injuries.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Kaiser Permanente and Hilo Pa‘a Family to Family Health Information Center.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committees find that traumatic brain injury is severe damage to the brain caused by an external force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness and may result in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning.  Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults; however, survivors of brain injuries can lead full lives, thanks to lifesaving medical techniques and rehabilitation services.  Because survivors face a long rehabilitation process that may not be covered by certain health benefit plans, your Committees find it necessary to ensure that insurers, hospital and medical service plans, and health maintenance organizations cover all forms of necessary and effective treatment for survivors of traumatic brain injuries in this State.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by identifying Senate Bill No. 1227 as the appropriate bill to be assessed by the Auditor.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 57, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 57, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair