STAND. COM. REP. NO.  88-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1603

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1603 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide health care coverage and benefits for a minimum of six months of inpatient and outpatient treatment for opioid dependence.

 

     The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Community Health Outreach Work Project, Ku Aloha Ola Mau, and three concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health provided comments.

 

     Your Committee requests that the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs collaborate with stakeholders to identify possible improvements for this measure's language.


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the date that this measure shall apply to policies, contracts, and plans of health insurance to December 31, 2018; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to promote further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1603, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair