SB242

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to assist persons who have been diagnosed with autism to participate in their communities by providing medicaid coverage for home and community-based services.

SECTION 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Kelii's Law".

SECTION 3. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346- Autism; coverage; home and community-based services. (a) Beginning on January 1, 2020, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the State's medicaid managed care and fee-for service programs shall not deny coverage for home and community-based services to individuals who have been diagnosed with autism.

(b) Coverage under this section shall include, but not be limited to coverage for:

(1) Assistive technology;

(2) Career planning, including vocational assessment and job placement services;

(3) Community transition services;

(4) Day habilitation;

(5) Family support;

(6) Home modifications;

(7) Nutritional consultation;

(8) Residential habilitation;

(9) Respite care;

(10) Specialized skill development, including behavioral specialist, community support, and systematic skill building services;

(11) Supported employment, including extended employment supports and intensive job coaching;

(12) Temporary supplemental services;

(13) Therapeutic care;

(14) Transitional work services;

(15) Vehicle modifications;

(16) Supportive housing; and

(17) Access to the medicaid early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment program for eligible individuals under the age of twenty-one.

(c) Services covered pursuant to this section shall be consistent with all federal and state privacy, security, and confidentiality laws.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall comply with the applicable federal requirements related to utilization, coverage, and reimbursement for services provided to individuals who have been diagnosed with autism.

(e) As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Autism" means autism spectrum disorder, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder, as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

"Therapeutic care" means services provided by licensed speech pathologists, licensed psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, registered occupational therapists, licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed physical therapists."

SECTION 4. The department of human services shall seek a waiver pursuant to section 1115 of the Social Security Act, title 42 United States Code section 1315, and other approvals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that may be necessary to amend the state medicaid plan to provide home and community-based services for medicaid eligible individuals who have been diagnosed with autism.

SECTION 5. The provision of home and community-based services for individuals diagnosed with autism as required by this Act shall apply to all plans issued under medicaid managed care and fee-for-service programs in the State.

SECTION 6. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 7. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by state or federal law, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 5 shall take effect upon approval of the 1115 waiver by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services submitted pursuant to section 4 of this Act.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	242
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII