STAND. COM. REP. NO. 853

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 242

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 242, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the State's Medicaid managed care and fee for service programs from denying coverage for home and community-based services to individuals who have been diagnosed with autism or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Action Group, Kelii Foundation, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Psychological Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Autism Society of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help to ensure that individuals diagnosed with autism or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder have access to services that will allow them to more fully participate in their communities.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Correcting the definition of "therapeutic care" to refer to licensed, rather than registered, occupational therapists;

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(3)  Making a technical nonsubstantive change for purposes of 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. 242, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair