STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1527

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 171

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 171 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of proposed mandatory health insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawaii Medical Association; Liberty Dialysis Hawaiʻi; Board of Trustees of the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that although continuous glucose monitors provide real-time data and trends on blood glucose levels that surpass the limited information available through traditional blood glucose meters, these devices are not covered by all health insurers. Your Committee further finds that House Bill No. 820, Regular Session of 2025 (HB820), proposes requiring all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care plans, to cover continuous glucose monitors, which would be considered a new mandated health insurance benefit.

Your Committee further finds that, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the social and financial impact of a proposed mandated health insurance benefit must be assessed by the Auditor before it can be enacted into law. This measure therefore requests the Auditor to conduct a statutorily required impact assessment report on the social and financial effects of the new mandated health insurance benefit proposed by HB820.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 171 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair