STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1063-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2284

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit a health care insurer, mutual benefit society, or health maintenance organization from requiring an insured, subscriber, member, or enrollee diagnosed with stage two through stage four cancer to undergo step therapy prior to covering the insured for the drug prescribed by the insured's health care provider, under certain conditions, for health insurance policies and contracts issued or renewed after December 31, 2020.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Health reports cancer as the second leading cause of death among Hawaii residents, claiming more than two thousand two hundred Hawaii residents each year. Your Committee further finds that cancer patients should have full access to effective treatment options at early stages of their illnesses. This measure would prohibit health insurers from requiring step therapy prior to covering the insured for the drug prescribed by the insured's health care provider.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report on the social and financial impacts of the mandatory health insurance coverage proposed by this measure;

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

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, 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