STAND. COM. REP. NO 204

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 791

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 791 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Autism Speaks; Autism Behavior Consulting Group, Inc.; Community Children's Council of Hawaii; Easter Seals Hawaii; Special Education Advisory Council; Kaiser Permanente Hawaii; Family Voices of Hawaii; and several individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Autism Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, American Council of Life Insurers, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that autism spectrum disorder treatments, including applied behavior analysis, are essential and have the potential to change the lives of children with autism.  Your Committees further find that no child with autism in Hawaii should be denied proper treatment due solely to the cost of the treatment.

 

     Your Committees have heard the testimony from several parties and individuals expressing concerns relating to age and cost coverage limitations and licensure procedures; therefore, your Committees request that your Committee on Ways and Means further examine these issues if it chooses to hear this measure.

 

     Your Committees express their gratitude to the testifiers who shared their heartfelt testimonies on this measure and to the individuals and organizations who worked on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 791 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair