STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2804

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1227

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1227, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR BRAIN INJURIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require insurers, hospital and medical service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide certain coverage for survivors of brain injuries.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and oral testimony in support from two individuals.  Written comments in opposition were received from the Department of Human Services, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente.  The Behavioral Health Administration of the Department of Health and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted written comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that survivors of traumatic brain injuries face a long and difficult rehabilitation process that may not be covered by certain health benefit plans.  Your Committee further finds that insurers should be required to provide coverage for traumatic brain injuries, to protect the health and well-being of the people of this State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the coverage for post-acute transition services or community reintegration services shall include outpatient day treatment services or other post-acute care treatment services;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Auditor, rather than the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the economic impact of the expanded coverage on affected insurers; and

 

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1227, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1227, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair