STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2167

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 768

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 768, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the privacy of patients who are minors receiving mental health treatment by:

(1) Requiring licensed mental health professionals, and mental health professionals working under their supervision, to educate minor patients on their confidentiality rights and inquire whether minor patients want their mental health treatment or counseling services to be confidential from their parents or guardians as part of their standard of care;

(2) Clarifying that a minor patient is not responsible for payment, including out-of-pocket costs, for the minor patient's mental health treatment or counseling services;

(3) Clarifying that the minor patient's parent or legal guardian is not responsible for payment of out-of-pocket costs for the minor patient's mental health treatment or counseling services unless the parent or guardian participates in the treatment or services and only for services rendered with their participation; and

(4) Restricting the disclosure of billing and payment history for a minor patient's mental health treatment or counseling services under certain conditions.

The Department of Health, Hawaii Youth Network Services, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, and Oahu County Democrats testified in support of this measure. Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and several individuals opposed this measure. Hawai‘i Pacific Health and Kaiser Permanente provided comments on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 768, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair