CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.40-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 202

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 202, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Amend the health insurance reimbursement or "clean claims" law in section 431:13:108, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS); and

(2) Establish parity in mental health and substance abuse treatment insurance coverage under chapter 431M, HRS, for minors covered in policies that provide benefits pursuant to the chapter, while excluding coverage of mental illness services for minors eligible for these services under the Felix Consent Decree.

Your Committee on Conference finds that there is a need to address child and adolescent mental health and substance abuse issues before they escalate into tragedies, such as the high school shootings in other states. In addition, providing children with access to needed treatment early in life will help to reduce societal costs in the future. Your Committee on Conference notes that the Hawaii Medical Service Association has estimated that the insurance costs of this measure, which allows utilization management, will be minimal.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

(1) Removing the provisions relating to the clean claims law;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2003; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 202, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 202, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________

DAVID M. MATSUURA, Chair

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Co-Chair

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Co-Chair

____________________________

RON MENOR, Co-Chair

____________________________

BERTHA C. KAWAKAMI, Co-Chair