THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

48

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO reASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR services provided by complementary alternative care providers.

 

WHEREAS, it is a right of all people in Hawaii to have access to all areas of health care including naturopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic; and

WHEREAS, the public relies heavily on health insurance policies to provide adequate medical care; and

WHEREAS, current health insurance policies exclude naturopathic, acupuncture, and chiropractic services as covered professional health services; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), requires that "[b]efore any legislative measure that mandates health insurance coverage for specific health services, specific diseases, or certain providers of health care services as part of individual or group health insurance policies, can be considered, there shall be concurrent resolutions passed requesting the auditor to prepare and submit to the legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-51, HRS, further provides that "[t]he concurrent resolutions shall designate a specific legislative bill that:

(1) Has been introduced in the legislature; and

(2) Includes, at a minimum, information identifying the:

(A) Specific health service, disease, or provider that would be covered;

(B) Extent of the coverage;

(C) Target groups that would be covered;

(D) Limits on utilization, if any; and

(E) Standards of care.

For purposes of this part, mandated health insurance coverage shall not include mandated optionals"; and

WHEREAS, section 23-52, HRS, further specifies the minimum information required for assessing the social and financial impact of the proposed health coverage mandate in the Auditor's report; and

WHEREAS, S.B. No. 2521, Regular Session of 2002, mandates coverage for services performed by a licensed naturopath, acupuncturist, and chiropractor; provided that the services performed are within the lawful scope of the naturopath, acupuncturist, or chiropractor's practice and that the coverage shall be on the same basis as any other care, for all policies and contracts, hospital and medical service plan contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization plans and contracts issued after December 31, 2002; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that mandatory health insurance coverage for services performed by a licensed naturopath, acupuncturist, and chiropractor, as provided in S.B. No. 2521 will substantially reduce illness and assist in the maintenance of good health for the people of this State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to reassess the social and financial effects of mandating insurance coverage for services performed by complementary alternative care (CAM) providers including, licensed naturopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and massage therapists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to consider the findings in prior impact assessments conducted pursuant to sections 23-51 and 23-52, HRS, contained in report no. 88-9 relating to chiropractic services, report no. 89-25 related to naturopathic care, report no. 95-28 related to acupuncture services, and any other existing reports pertaining to CAM providers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary legislation, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and State Insurance Commissioner, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to each insurer in the State that issues health insurance policies.

 

Report Title:

Mandatory Health Insurance; Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, Chiropractors