STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1689

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 111

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 111 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE MEDICAL CANNABIS INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT WORKING GROUP TO CONTINUE ITS WORK TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING MEDICAL CANNABIS REIMBURSEMENTS BY HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Medical Cannabis Insurance Reimbursement Working Group to continue its work to address the complexities surrounding medical cannabis reimbursements by health insurance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Pono Life Maui and Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that medical cannabis is a valuable tool for health care providers when treating multiple disorders and diagnoses including but not limited to cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. For many people, especially the disabled, chronically ill, or elderly living on fixed incomes, insurance coverage is the primary means of paying for necessary medications. However, unlike other medications, medical cannabis is not covered by health insurance. The Medical Cannabis Insurance Reimbursement Working Group was established in 2018 to examine the complexities surrounding the topic of making medical cannabis reimbursable by health insurance. Due to the complexity of the issue, more work remains to be done. This measure enables the Medical Cannabis Insurance Reimbursement Working Group to continue its work examining the issues surrounding medical cannabis reimbursements by health insurance.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 111 and recommends its adoption.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair