STAND. COM. REP. 3063

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.C.R. No. 37

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 37 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR COGNITIVE REHABILITATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Auditor assess the social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to offer coverage for cognitive rehabilitation.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, and a traumatic brain injury survivor.

In 1991, a study completed by the Disability and Communication Access Board indicated that traumatic brain injuries are the leading killer and cause of disabilities in children and young adults. National statistics at that time indicated that two million head injuries occur each year in the United States, with an estimated 70,000 to 90,000 people sustaining life-long physical, intellectual, and psychological disabilities. Your Committees find that despite the large amount of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury, certain health plans may not even provide coverage for these injuries.

H.B. No. 2839, relating to mandatory health coverage for cognitive rehabilitation, was introduced this session.

A report from the Auditor is required under section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and would be invaluable in providing basic information about the extent of the coverage necessary, specific health services that providers would cover, the target population to be covered, utilization of services, and standards of care.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 37 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

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RON MENOR, Chair

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair