STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1594

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1095

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to define the term "habilitative services," with regard to health insurers and mutual benefit societies.  The new term is defined as health care services, including but not limited to physical and occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, applied behavior analysis, medical equipment, orthotics, and prosthetics, that help a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living.

The Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Autism Speaks, and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association provided testimony in opposition.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair