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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
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 (HRS),
 3   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, HRS, 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, HRS,
17   marriage and family therapists must have at least a master's
18   degree in marriage or family therapy or an allied field and
19   fulfill other specified practical and examination requirements;
20   and
21   
22       WHEREAS, although licensed psychologists, clinical social
23   workers, and advanced practice nurses are included providers of
24   the mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse services mandated
25   under chapter 431M, HRS, licensed marriage and family
26   therapists are not; and
27   
28       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
29   providers under chapter 431M, HRS, will increase community
30   access to appropriate mental health services; and
31   
32       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
33   providers under chapter 431M, HRS, may reduce costs by
34   providing those who do not need more expensive psychiatric or
35   other specialty services the option of utilizing only the level
36   of mental health expertise needed; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, including marriage and family therapists as
 2   providers under chapter 431M, HRS, may reduce costs in the long
 3   run, by allowing families of children with mental health,
 4   alcohol, and drug abuse services needs that are not yet so
 5   acute as to require clinical treatment, timely access to less
 6   costly family therapy services; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, two bills introduced in the 1999 Regular Session-
 9   -H.B. No. 327 and S.B. No. 860--would include marriage and
10   family therapists as providers of the full range of services
11   mandated under chapter 431M, HRS; 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, HRS, to prepare a report
17   assessing the social and financial effects of including
18   marriage and family therapists as service providers under
19   chapter 431M, HRS, as proposed by H.B. No. 327 and S.B. No.
20   860; and
21   
22       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report:
23   
24       (1)  Assess whether the scope of coverage mandated in H.B.
25            No. 327 and S.B. No. 860, which include marriage and
26            family therapists as providers of the full range of
27            mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse services under
28            chapter 431M, HRS, is appropriate, or if there are
29            criteria and facts that support a more limited
30            mandated coverage;
31   
32       (2)  Examine mechanisms for, and controls on mental health,
33            alcohol, and substance abuse services referrals, and
34            whether the mandated coverage would result in
35            additional costs through new demands for marriage and
36            family therapy, or in cost savings through
37            substitution of less costly marriage and family
38            therapy services for other, more expensive
39            alternatives; and
40   
41       (3)  Examine the practice and experience of other states,
42            to the extent relevant and instructive, in offering
43            and utilizing marriage and family therapy coverage or
44            services;
45   
46   and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Auditor is
 2   requested to submit the report to the Legislature no later than
 3   twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of
 4   2000; and
 5   
 6       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 7   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Auditor
 8   and the Director of Health.