STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1787

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.C.R. No. 105

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 105, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS, MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES, AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY COGNITIVE REHABILITATION THERAPY FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to take the first steps necessary to ensuring that survivors of traumatic brain injury have access to needed medical care by requesting that the Auditor conduct a sunrise analysis of the proposed requirement that all health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations provide coverage for medically necessary cognitive rehabilitation therapy for survivors of traumatic brain injury as contained in Senate Bill No. 225, S.D. 1 (2017).

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and a few individuals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adding new language to request that the Auditor's sunrise analysis include a determination of whether cognitive rehabilitation therapy is a rehabilitative or habilitative service for which the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires insurance coverage as an essential health benefit.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 105, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 105, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair