STAND. COM. REP. NO. 738

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 823

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 823, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to mandate health insurance coverage for services performed by naturopathic physicians.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, fraternal benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for health care services provided by naturopathic physicians; and

     (2)  Requires the Insurance Commissioner to receive and investigate complaints relating to discrimination against a health care provider.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Kaiser Permanente and University Health Alliance.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted written comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that naturopathic physicians are licensed and regulated pursuant to chapter 455, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Naturopathic physicians provide diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of many disorders of the body.  Numerous members of the public have experienced positive health results from treatment through naturopathic medicine.  However, insurance coverage for the services of naturopathic physicians is inconsistent throughout the State.  Your Committee further finds that requiring insurance coverage for the services of naturopathic physicians will afford members of the public with broader and better access to the health care they desire.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

In light of the requirement imposed by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against a licensed health care provider, along with an increasing desire by the public for insurance coverage of naturopathic services, your Committee acknowledges the need for the Auditor to update its 1989 report, Study of Proposed Mandatory Health Insurance for Naturopathic Care, Report No. 89-25.  Your Committee respectfully requests that subsequent Committees to which this measure is referred consider this matter further.

     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. 823, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 823, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair