STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1360

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 8

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 8 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS BOTH THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THE COSTS OF INTRAVENOUS KETAMINE THERAPY TO TREAT DEPRESSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess both the social and financial effects of proposed mandated health insurance coverage for a percentage of the costs of intravenous ketamine therapy to treat depression.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has gained attention for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects, particularly in treatment-resistant depression. Your Committee further finds that considering the State's high rates of mental health challenges, accessible ketamine therapy offers an effective, fast-acting solution that could significantly reduce emergency room visits and prevent suicides. This resolution is a step towards providing access to an efficient, life‑saving treatment for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation, and reducing the prevalence of mental issues in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language specifying that the Auditor is requested to assess the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated health insurance coverage in S.B. No. 967, Regular Session of 2025;

(2) Inserting language to request the Auditor to assess the proposed mandated insurance coverage for various percentages of the costs of intravenous ketamine therapy to treat depression in qualifying patients; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 8, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 8, S.D. 1.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair