THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

39

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the auditor to assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to offer coverage for marriage and family therapy.

 

WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists are licensed mental health professionals trained to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of a relationship; and

WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists treat a wide range of serious clinical problems, including various forms of mental illness, alcohol dependence, and substance abuse issues; and

WHEREAS, there are not enough professional mental health clinicians to meet the needs of Hawaii residents, and to exclude an entire category of highly trained mental health professionals from treating these needs and from billing for insurance reimbursement places a greater strain on an already burdened system; and

WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists are approved providers under the military health insurance program and various state programs, and many work in the more remote areas of the State where there is a scarcity of mental health providers; and

WHEREAS, inclusion of marriage and family therapy among the mental illness and alcohol and drug dependence benefits will provide greater access to mental health services to the presently under-served families of Hawaii and provide them with additional treatment options; and

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

"[b]efore 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:

"[t]he 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, S.B. No. 1228, S.D. 2 (2005), mandates coverage of marriage and family therapy among the mental illness, alcohol and drug dependence benefits required within the hospital and medical coverage offered under accident and sickness insurance policies and similar insurance products; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for marriage and family therapy among the mental illness, alcohol, and drug dependence benefits, as provided in S.B. No. 1228, S.D. 2 (2005), will substantially assist in the maintenance of good health for the people of this State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives 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 impacts of mandating coverage of marriage and family therapy as a mental illness, alcohol, and drug dependence benefit required within the hospital and medical coverage offered under accident and health or sickness insurance policies and similar insurance products, as provided in S.B. No. 1228, S.D. 2 (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 twenty 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 to 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; Marriage and Family Therapy