STAND. COM. REP. NO. 902

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 250

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 250, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Examine prior authorization practices in the State by requiring utilization review entities to report certain data to the State Health Planning and Development Agency;

(2) Establish timelines for the approval of prior authorization requests to reduce delays for urgent and non-urgent health care services; and

(3) Establish the Health Care Appropriateness and Necessity Working Group to make recommendations to improve and expedite the prior authorization process.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Hawaii Medical Association; and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawai‘i Section.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 250, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair