STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2591

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2323

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2323, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF HEALTH SCREENINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that insurance policies issued in the State cover testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii and Hawaii Medical Service Association.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that testing for sexually transmitted diseases often results in the early detection and treatment of a disease.  The early detection of sexually transmitted diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus, is paramount to proper health care as it can reduce mortality rates and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.  However, testing rates for sexually transmitted diseases are troublingly low.  One of the obstacles to testing for sexually transmitted diseases is the cost.  Your Committee believes that requiring insurance providers to cover testing for sexually transmitted diseases will increase early detection and prompt treatment for a larger number of individuals, which will result in a healthier populace.

     Your Committee notes that, if this measure does not pass during this legislative session, a resolution will be introduced to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial aspects of requiring insurance providers to cover testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Inserting language that exempts the measure from section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2323, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2323, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair