STAND. COM. REP. NO.  423-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1599

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1599, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require Medicaid and QUEST coverage for chiropractic services, up to twenty-four visits per year.

     This measure also:

(1)  Requires the Department of Human Services to request the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the state medicaid plan to include chiropractic services;

(2)  Requires the Department of Human Services to report to the Legislature upon receiving a response from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the requested amendment to the state medicaid plan; and

(3)  Appropriates an unspecified sum.

The Department of Human Services submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that twenty-six states provide some degree of coverage for necessary adult chiropractic care, with the duration of coverage ranging from four to twenty-six visits per year.  Your Committee further finds that, for half of the 2016‑2017 fiscal year, coverage for the chiropractic care visits required by the measure would necessitate an appropriation of $7,200,000 in state and federal funds with the state portion totaling $3,886,560.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1599, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair