STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1595

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 791

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 791, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require that health insurance policies and contracts issued in this State provide coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment for individuals eighteen years of age and under.  

 

     The Center for Autism and Related Disorders; National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis; and a multitude of individuals testified in support of this measure.  The American Council of Life Insurers and Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Easter Seals Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Autism Society, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Autism Speaks, Community Children’s Councils of Hawaii, and numerous individuals commented on this measure.

 


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Exempting disability insurance policies from coverage for autism spectrum disorders;

 

     (2)  Changing the maximum age of eligibility for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders to an unspecified age; and

 

     (3)  Changing the maximum benefit coverage breakdown to unspecified amounts and age ranges.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 791, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 791, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair