113           
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO REPORT ON THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
   EFFECTS OF INCLUDING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AS
   PROVIDERS OF MANDATED MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL, AND DRUG ABUSE
   TREATMENT SERVICES. 


 1       WHEREAS, "marriage and family therapy practice" as
 2   regulated under Chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes (Chapter
 3   451J), includes the application of psychotherapeutic and family
 4   systems theories and techniques to diagnose and treat mental,
 5   emotional, and nervous disorders within the context of an
 6   individual's relationships; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, marriage and family therapists licensed under
 9   Chapter 451J may design and develop treatment plans
10   collaboratively with the client to assist individuals, couples,
11   and families to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and
12   productive social relationships, improve behavioral or
13   psychological functioning, and reduce distress or disability;
14   and
15   
16       WHEREAS, to become licensed under Chapter 451J, marriage
17   and family therapists must have at least a master's degree in
18   marriage or family therapy or an allied field, and fulfill
19   other specified practical and examination requirements; and
20   
21       WHEREAS, although licensed psychologists, clinical social
22   workers, and advanced practice nurses are included providers of
23   the mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse services mandated
24   under Chapter 431M, Hawaii Revised Statutes (Chapter 431M),
25   licensed marriage and family therapists are not; and
26   
27       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
28   providers under Chapter 431M will increase community access to
29   appropriate mental health services; and
30   
31       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
32   providers under Chapter 431M may reduce costs by providing
33   those who do not need more expensive psychiatric or other
34   specialty services the option of utilizing only the level of
35   mental health expertise needed; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
 2   providers under Chapter 431M may reduce costs in the long run,
 3   by allowing families of children with mental health, alcohol,
 4   and drug abuse services needs that are not yet so acute as to
 5   require clinical treatment, timely access to less costly family
 6   therapy services; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, two bills introduced in the 1999 Session of the
 9   Hawaii State Legislature, H.B. No. 327 and S.B. No. 860, would
10   include marriage and family therapists as providers of the full
11   range of services mandated under Chapter 431M; now, therefore,
12   
13       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
14   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
15   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Auditor is
16   requested pursuant to section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
17   to prepare a report assessing both the social and financial
18   effects of including marriage and family therapists as Chapter
19   431M service providers, as proposed by H.B. No. 327 and S.B.
20   No. 860; and
21   
22       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study assess whether the
23   scope of coverage mandated in H.B. No. 327 and S.B. No. 860,
24   which bills include marriage and family therapists as providers
25   of the full range of mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse
26   services under Chapter 431M, is appropriate, or if there are
27   criteria and facts that support a more limited mandated
28   coverage; and
29   
30       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study examine mechanisms
31   for, and controls on mental health, alcohol, and substance
32   abuse services referrals, and whether the mandated coverage
33   would result in additional costs through new demands for
34   marriage and family therapy, or in cost savings through
35   substitution of less costly marriage and family therapy
36   services for other, more expensive alternatives; and
37   
38       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study examine the practice
39   and experience of other states, to the extent relevant and
40   instructive, in offering and utilizing marriage and family
41   therapy coverage or services; and
42   
43       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report prepared by the
44   Auditor be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty
45   days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and

 
 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 2   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Auditor
 3   and the Director of Health.
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________