STAND. COM. REP. 46

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 259

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 259 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to make permanent, parity in health insurance plans for serious mental illness benefits.

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Nurses Association, National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Community Alliance on Prisons, NAMI Oahu, Equal Insurance Coalition, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and several individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division, supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure. The Hawaii Medical Association commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that mental illness and substance abuse are serious health problems in Hawaii that cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Making permanent parity in insurance benefits for serious mental illness will help individuals to receive treatment in a timely manner and at an affordable cost, as well as helping to improve the social climate in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this bill to incorporate provisions in H.B. No. 1168, including:

(1) Amending the definition of "serious mental illness";

(2) Correcting a drafting error to ensure that mental health parity benefits become permanent; and

(3) Making technical amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 259, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 259, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair