STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1640-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2319

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 3

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, 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 Department of Human Services, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, American Association of University Women, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     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. 2319, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair