STAND. COM. REP. NO. 89

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 860
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 860 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to include marriage and
family therapists as mental health and substance abuse treatment
providers under health insurance plans.

     The Hawaii Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
presented testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of
Health, the Libertarian Party, Benefit Capital Financial
Services, Inc., the Hawaii Counseling and Education Center, Inc.,
and numerous individuals submitted written supportive testimony,
but were not present at the hearing.  The Hawaii Psychological
Association, which was not present at the hearing, submitted
written testimony in opposition to the measure.

     Currently, State law does not recognize marriage and family
therapists as mental health and substance abuse treatment
providers for insurance benefits coverage purposes.  Therefore,
those with health insurance who need the services of a marriage
and family therapist must pay in full or go without. 

     This measure would rectify that situation, offer consumers
more treatment options, and help develop private sector mental
health and substance abuse treatment opportunities in underserved
areas of the State.  It would also allow the Department of

 
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Education to seek third party reimbursement for services provided
to special needs students by licensed marriage and family
therapists pursuant to the Felix-Waihee consent decree.  Finally,
this measure would create parity among the core mental health
professions since physicians, psychologists, clinical social
workers, and advanced practice registered nurses are presently
authorized to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment
services under health insurance plans and contracts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 860 and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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