34            
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
    EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR
    BONE MASS MEASUREMENT AND HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN
    CONNECTION WITH OSTEOPOROSIS, ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS FOR WOMEN
    AGED FORTY AND OLDER, CERVICAL CYTOLOGY SCREENING, AND
    TWICE YEARLY DIRECT ACCESS TO OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGICAL
    SERVICES.


 1        WHEREAS, currently, over nineteen million women suffer
 2   from osteoporosis; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, early prevention and diagnosis can be effective
 5   combined with hormone replacement or other drug therapies in
 6   reducing the prevalence, devastation, and overall cost of this
 7   osteoporosis; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, bone mass measurement is non-invasive, and
10   painless, and in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy,
11   provides a reliable way to diagnose and treat osteoporosis
12   before costly fractures occur; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, nonetheless, few health insurance plans provide
15   coverage for bone mass measurement or hormone replacement
16   therapy; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, mammography screening is the most effective
19   medical technology available to detect breast cancer in its
20   early stages, where it can be treated most successfully; and
21   
22        WHEREAS, several studies have shown that mammography
23   screening before the age of fifty has reduced breast cancer
24   deaths by thirty per cent; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, current law provides annual mammograms for women
27   only at age fifty and older, rather than at the earlier age of
28   forty; and
29   
30        WHEREAS, cervical cytology screening, including a pelvic
31   examination and collection, preparation, and evaluation of a
32   Pap smear has been proven to be an effective method of
33   detecting cervical cancer; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2        WHEREAS, H.B. No.      (1999) requires health insurance
 3   coverage for bone mass measurement and hormone replacement
 4   therapy in connection with osteoporosis, annual mammograms for
 5   women aged forty and older, cervical cytology screening for
 6   women aged eighteen and older (with no coinsurance or
 7   deductible payments for mammograms and cervical cytology
 8   screenings), and twice yearly direct access to obstetric and
 9   gynecological services; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires
12   that "before any legislative measure that mandates health
13   insurance coverage for specific health services, specific
14   diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part
15   of individual or group health insurance policies, can be
16   considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed
17   requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature
18   a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of
19   the proposed mandated coverage"; now, therefore,
20   
21        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
22   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
23   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested
24   to study the social and financial impacts of requiring all
25   employer group health policies, contracts, plans, or agreements
26   issued or renewed in Hawaii, on a group or individual basis, to
27   provide coverage for bone mass measurement and hormone
28   replacement therapy in connection with osteoporosis, annual
29   mammograms for women aged forty and older, cervical cytology
30   screening for women aged eighteen and older (with no
31   coinsurance or deductible payments for mammograms and cervical
32   cytology screenings), and twice yearly direct access to
33   obstetric and gynecological services, not as an employer
34   option, for the cost of care for the subscriber or any
35   dependent of the subscriber who is covered by the policy; and
36   
37        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to
38   submit to the Legislature a report of findings and
39   recommendations pursuant to this Concurrent Resolution prior to
40   the convening of the 2000 Regular Session; and
41   

 
 
 
 
 
 
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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 Auditor, the
 3   Director of Health, and to the Insurance Commissioner, who in
 4   turn is requested to transmit copies to each insurer,
 5   individual and group hospital or medical service association,
 6   and health maintenance organization in the State that issues
 7   health insurance policies or provides health coverage.
 8   
 9 
10 
11 
12                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________