THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	40
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR COLONOSCOPY COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING.

     WHEREAS, "colorectal cancer" is a collective term that refers to both cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum; and

     WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the United States after lung cancer; and

     WHEREAS, excluding skin cancers, the American Cancer Society counts colorectal cancer as the third most commonly occurring cancer in the United States, affecting both men and women; and

     WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates that there were approximately 153,760 new colorectal cancer diagnoses made in the United States in 2007, which the Society forecasts will cause the deaths of over 52,000, or roughly one-third, of those afflicted; and

     WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer when diagnosed early through available screening techniques, including colonoscopy; and

     WHEREAS, colonoscopy is considered a safe and highly effective diagnostic technique that studies have found to be more accurate and less invasive than other forms of screening, and that Duke University Medical Center reported in 2004 is the "most reliable way to find colon cancer and the growths that could become colon cancer"; and

     WHEREAS, in the current session, various bills have been introduced in both legislative chambers that would mandate health insurance coverage beginning at age fifty for a colonoscopy screening every ten years; and

WHEREAS, section 23‑51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that:

     "Before 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 23-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, outlines the specific topics to be addressed in the Auditor's report required under section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an impact assessment report pursuant to sections 23‑51 and 23‑52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the social and financial impact of mandating coverage for colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy every ten years, beginning at age fifty, as further described by Senate Bill No. _____ and House Bill No. _____; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, which shall include mention of any necessary implementing legislation, at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and the Insurance Commissioner, who, in turn, is requested to transmit

copies to each organization that issues health insurance policies in the State.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Health Insurance; Required Coverage; Colorectal Cancer Screening