STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1324-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 535

S.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 S.B. No. 535, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEARING AIDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require health insurers in the State to provide a minimum benefit of $1,500 for a reasonably medically necessary hearing aid for each of a member's or beneficiary's hearing-impaired ears every thirty-six months.

The Disability and Communication Access Board, Aloha State Association of the Deaf, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and several individuals supported this measure. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

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 S.B. No. 535, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair