STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3286

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 64

       S.D. 1

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.C.R. No. 64, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE ANALYSIS OF MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF MANDATORY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFERED TO PATIENTS FOUND TO HAVE ABNORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a sunrise analysis of mandatory insurance coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program offered to patients found to have abnormal blood glucose, as set forth under H.B. No. 2220, H.D. 1, introduced during the Regular Session of 2016.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Health Foundation, Traditional Hawaiian Healing Center, Cosmic Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Center, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the National Diabetes Prevention Program was developed and evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and has been proven to reduce the onset of diabetes in at-risk adults by fifty-eight per cent, using a cost-effective, community-based intervention.  The program has shown that only moderate weight loss is required to achieve preventive health benefits.  Accordingly, your Committee believes that a sunrise analysis is needed to determine whether mandatory coverage for the program is appropriate.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 64, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair