HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

39

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D.1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING BY FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TESTING, FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY, AND COLONOSCOPY.

 

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is a malignant disease that occurs in the colon or the rectum, and is diagnosed in approximately 135,000 people annually; and

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer when diagnosed early; and

WHEREAS, a fecal occult blood test detects blood in the stool, which may be the only symptom of colon cancer, by placing a small sample of stool on a chemically treated card, pad, or wipe, and then an indicator solution is put on top of the sample to specify blood in the stool by a color change in the card, pad, or wipe; and

WHEREAS, flexible sigmoidoscopy is a highly used procedure in which the inside of the lower part of the large intestine is evaluated with a lighted scope used to look for bleeding or benign growths called polyps in the colon and is one of the key screening tests for colorectal cancer; and

WHEREAS, colonoscopy is the procedure of evaluating the lining of the colon to check for medical problems such as bleeding or presence of cancer, and is the method of choice for screening patients at high risk for colon cancer; and

WHEREAS, fecal occult blood testing is an important screening measure for colorectal cancer; and

WHEREAS, flexible sigmoidoscopy is an outpatient procedure which can facilitate minor surgical procedures to repair some bleeding problems and perform painless biopsies to diagnose colorectal cancer; and

WHEREAS, colonoscopy is a safe and highly effective diagnostic technique that is more accurate than a barium enema x-ray and much simpler and less painful than exploratory surgery; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), requires that:

..."before any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, HRS, further provides that:

..."the concurrent resolutions shall designate a specific legislative bill that:

(1) Has been introduced in the legislature; and

(2) Includes, at a minimum, information identifying the:

(A) Specific health service, disease, or provider that would be covered;

(B) Extent of the coverage;

(C) Target groups that would be covered;

(D) Limits on utilization, if any; and

(E) Standards of care.

For purposes of this part, mandated health insurance coverage shall not include mandated optionals"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-52, HRS, further specifies the minimum information required for assessing the social and financial impact of the proposed health coverage mandate in the Auditor's report; and

WHEREAS, H.B. No. 1062, 2005, mandates coverage of colonoscopy for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for colonoscopy, as provided in H.B. No. 1062, 2005, with the addition of fecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy, will substantially reduce illness and assist in the maintenance of good health for the people of this State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment report, pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, HRS, of the social and financial impact of mandating coverage for colorectal cancer screening by fecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy as well as colonoscopy every ten years, beginning at age 50, for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2005, as provided in H.B. No. 1062, 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, at least 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and the Insurance Commissioner, who, in turn, is requested to transmit copies to each insurer in the state that issues health insurance policies.

 

 

Report Title:

Mandated Coverage; Health Insurance