STAND. COM. REP. NO. 702

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 493

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 493, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit health insurers that cover treatment for stage two through stage four cancer from requiring an insured who is 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.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division.

Your Committee finds that for cancer patients, selecting the proper personalized treatment as quickly as possible can be critical to survival. Delays in getting patients the right treatments at the right time may lead to unnecessary complications in the physician-patient decision-making process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical corrections regarding the types of organizations that have lists of prescription drug formularies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 493, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 493, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair