STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3018

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 14

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 14 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO AMEND TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO REQUIRE MEDICAID TO COVER THE ROUTINE COSTS OF CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN CLINICAL TRIALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge Congress to amend federal law to make coverage of routine costs of care for beneficiaries with life-threating conditions in clinical trials mandatory for all Medicaid programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Filipina Advocacy Network FAN. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds there is no federal mandate for Medicaid to cover routine care costs for beneficiaries on clinical trials, and only ten states and the District of Columbia cover clinical trial participation for Medicaid beneficiaries. Your Committee further finds that members of Congress recently reintroduced legislation, the Clinical Treatment Act, H.R. 913, which would promote access to life-saving therapies for Medicaid enrollees by ensuring coverage of services furnished in connection with participation in qualifying clinical trials for enrollees with a life-threatening condition.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 14 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

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RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair