STAND. COM. REP. NO. 428-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1705

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. 1705, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR PORT-WINE STAINS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require insurers, hospital and medical services plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for medical procedures to eliminate or provide maximum feasible treatment for port-wine stains.

Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting provisions mandating coverage for medical procedures to eliminate or provide maximum feasible treatment for port-wine stains;

(2) Requiring the auditor to conduct a study to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers, hospital and medical services plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for medical procedures to eliminate or provide maximum feasible treatment of port-wine stains;

(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; and

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

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. 1705, 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. 1705, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair