STAND. COM. REP. NO.  203-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1895

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1895 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand access to prescription contraceptives by requiring insurers to cover the contraceptive supplies dispensed in an amount intended to last for:

(1)  A three-month period for the first dispensing of the contraceptive supply to the insured; and

(2)  A twelve-month period for subsequent dispensing of the same contraceptive supply to the insured.

The Department of Health, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and an individual testified in support of this measure.  CVS Health opposed this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, Department of Human Services, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, American Association of University Women-Hawaii, and American Council of Life Insurers commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Authorizing a prescribing health care provider to prescribe oral contraceptives for a period up to twelve months from the initial prescription based on the prescriber's discretion;

(2)  Specifying that required insurance coverage includes reimbursement to a prescribing health care provider or dispensing entity for the dispensing of contraceptive supplies intended to last up to a twelve-month period;

(3)  Clarifying that limited benefit health insurers are not subject to contraceptive coverage requirements;

(4)  Providing that the requirements of this measure apply to policies, contracts, and plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2019;

(5)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; and

(6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1895, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1895, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair