STAND. COM. REP. NO.302-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 1857

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1857 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require parity in mental health coverage for minors to the same extent as provided to adults.

Among other things, this bill:

(1) Amends the definition of "serious mental illness" to include major depression in minors; and

(2) Adds mental illness and alcohol and drug dependence benefits for minors.

NAMI Oahu, Hawaii Medical Association, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Equal Insurance Coalition, Hawaii Psychological Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and the Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this measure.

Kaiser Permanente, the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Royal State National Insurance Co., Ltd. submitted testimony in apposition to this bill. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Mutual Benefit Association of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that youth suicide, depression, and alcohol and substance abuse is a problem both nationwide and in Hawaii. Unfortunately, minors do not have the same access to mental health care that adults do. Although Felix-class children often receive mental health services, there are children who are not Felix-eligible and have become part of a "gap group" that does not receive adequate insurance coverage for mental health care. Your Committee finds that this is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed immediately to provide parity in mental health care benefits for minors.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Removing the provision that excludes minors who receive treatment under the Felix Consent Degree from benefits;

(2) Removing the repeal date of the benefits;

(3) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2003; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive 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. 1857, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1857, 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