STAND. COM. REP. NO. 429-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1603

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide health care coverage and benefits for a minimum of six months of inpatient and outpatient treatment for opioid dependence.

Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii testified in opposition. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting provisions mandating health care coverage and benefits for a minimum of six months of inpatient and outpatient treatment for opioid dependence;

(2) Requiring the auditor to conduct a study to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide health care coverage and benefits for a minimum of six months of inpatient and outpatient treatment for opioid dependence;

(3) Requiring the auditor to report to the legislature all findings and recommendations, including any legislation, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019;

(4) Appropriating an unspecified amount for the auditor to conduct the study; and

(5) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair