STAND. COM. REP. NO. 603-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1624

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1624, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after December 31, 2024.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Hawaii Society of Clinical Oncology; Association for Clinical Oncology; Fertility Institute of Hawaii; Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology of Hawaii, Inc.; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Kaiser Permanente Hawaii; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Your Committee finds that some cancer treatments can cause iatrogenic infertility when chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery damage reproductive cells, reproductive organs, or endocrine functioning. These treatments can also adversely impact the ability to carry a pregnancy. Although patients facing iatrogenic infertility have recognized, effective options for preserving fertility, the high cost of these procedures and the narrow window to obtain services means these procedures are unattainable for many people. This measure assists in the offsetting of those costs by mandating coverage for standard fertility preservation services.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised during the public hearing on this measure related to cryopreservation storage services, as patients requesting cryopreservation services are required to execute a separate agreement with the selected cryopreservation bank for storage services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1624, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair