STAND. COM. REP. 1520

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 153

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 153 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN ACTUARIAL STUDY ON HEALTH INSURANCE PARITY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY AND DRUG DEPENDENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Insurance Commissioner to conduct an actuarial study of a health insurance scheme that requires treatment for alcohol dependency and drug dependency at rates and on terms and conditions comparable to those applicable to treatment for medical and surgical conditions currently required to be covered by health insurers.

The Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and Blueprint for Change testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health supported this measure with amendments.

Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by replacing its contents, and among other things:

(1) Changing the title to read: "REQUESTING A STUDY OF MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT";

(2) Referencing S.B. No. 1321, H.D. 1, Regular Session of 2003, that proposes to amend the definition of "serious mental illness" and mandate insurance coverage;

(3) Referencing that parity in coverage for the treatment of alcohol dependency and drug dependency should be considered; and

(4) Requesting the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of the mandatory insurance coverage proposed in S.B. No. 1321, H.D. 1, and for alcohol and drug dependency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 153, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 153, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair