STAND. COM. REP. NO. 176

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 687

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 687 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 that are deemed necessary when a patient experiences, or with medical certainty substantiated by a licensed physician, will experience some functionality issues resulting from a port-wine stain.

The O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and one individual testified in support of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing a definition of "medically necessary" that conflicted with the statutory definition of "medical necessity" under section 432E-1.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 687, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 687, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair