STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1063-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2319

      S.D. 1

      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 S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, 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 health insurers, including health benefits plans under the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and Medicaid managed care programs, to cover reimbursement to a prescribing health care provider or dispensing entity for contraceptive supplies that are intended to last for up to a 12-month period for an insured.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Public Health Association, YWCA Oahu, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, American Council of Life Insurers, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Hawaii Medical Association commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that disability insurers are not required to provide coverage for contraceptive services and supplies and reimbursement to prescribing and dispensing pharmacists for the services and supplies to an insured; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity 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 S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, 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