STAND. COM. REP. NO. 185

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 553

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for biomarker testing beginning January 1, 2026.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Alliance for Patient Access; National Comprehensive Cancer Network; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Biotechnology Innovation Organization; American Kidney Fund; International Cancer Advocacy Network; Liberty Dialysis-Hawaii; Alzheimer's Association Hawaii Chapter; Oncology Nursing Society; Advanced Medical Technology Association; American Lung Association; and nine individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Human Services; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Medical Service Association; and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

Your Committees find that biomarker testing is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, and ongoing monitoring of diseases or conditions. This testing allows for a more precise and personalized approach to medical care by identifying specific genetic, molecular, or biochemical markers associated with an individual's disease. This measure would advance the standard of care for individuals facing various diseases and conditions, particularly in the field of oncology where biomarker testing plays a pivotal role in personalized medicine.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 553, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 553, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair