STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 141

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 141 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A SUNRISE REVIEW OF INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE TESTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease testing.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

     Your Committee finds that early detection of sexually transmitted diseases is paramount to proper health care.  Preventive health services can save lives and improve health by identifying illnesses earlier, managing illnesses more effectively, and treating illnesses before they develop into more complicated, debilitating conditions.

     Your Committee further finds that under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act), private health plans are required to cover a range of preventive services without any patient cost sharing.  Mandating insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease screenings will therefore increase diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Hawaii, which will result in a decrease in the rates of infection and costs associated with sexually transmitted diseases.

     Your Committee additionally finds that House Bill No. 1897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and Senate Bill No. 2323, S.D. 2, introduced during the Regular Session of 2016, ensure that all insurers in the State provide insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease screenings.  Your Committee notes that House Bill No. 1897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1 and Senate Bill No. 2323, S.D. 2, contain an exemption from the requirement for an Auditor's report associated with new mandates for health insurance coverage, since most health insurance plans in the State already provide insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease screenings.  This measure is intended to serve as a backup measure, should House Bill No. 1897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and Senate Bill No. 2323, S.D. 2, fail to pass the Legislature and become enacted.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 141 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair