STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1430

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 105

       S.D. 1

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.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 and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a "sunrise analysis" of mandating health insurance coverage for medically necessary cognitive rehabilitation therapy for survivors of traumatic brain injury.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

     Your Committee notes that Senate Bill No. 225, S.D. 1, proposes to mandate health insurance coverage for medically necessary cognitive rehabilitation therapy for survivors of traumatic brain injury.

     Furthermore, section 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Auditor to conduct a "sunrise analysis" of new benefits proposed to be mandated for health insurance coverage.  If instructed by an adopted concurrent resolution, the Auditor is required to conduct the analysis on a specific legislative bill.

     This measure is the concurrent resolution by which the Legislature requires the Auditor to conduct the "sunrise analysis" of the proposed cognitive therapy benefit proposed to be mandated under S.B. No. 225, S.D. 1.

     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. 105, 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