STAND. COM. REP. NO.  219

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1118

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1118 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the health of residents of the State by preventing unnecessary deaths from prostate cancer and colon cancer.

 

     Specifically, this bill mandates the provision of health coverage for prostate cancer and colorectal cancer in the State by all health and accident insurers, mutual benefit societies that offer hospital and medical health plans, and health maintenance organizations.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and two individual Hawaiian civic clubs.  Kaiser Permanente submitted testimony in opposition to this measure, while the Insurance Commissioner, HMSA, and the American Cancer Society submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death among native Hawaiians and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  However, colorectal cancer screening can provide detection of precancerous polyps and early carcinomas resulting in either less extensive surgery or only simple colonoscopic extraction in many cases so that no person diagnosed with these lesions need suffer and die from colon cancer.

 

     Your Committee also finds that the likelihood of developing prostate cancer in men is one in six, and prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in native Hawaiians and a leading cause of cancer death nationwide.  However, the use of prostate cancer screening can result in early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.

 

     Your Committee believes that the health coverage for prostate cancer and colorectal cancer screening required by this bill will not only save lives but also prove to be cost-effective by preventing the need for more extensive and expensive medical procedures.

 

     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. 1118 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair