STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3200

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 34

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct an impact assessment report of the social and financial impacts of mandating coverage for hearing aids by health insurers and like entities, as proposed in S.B. No. 309, S.D. 1, from the Regular Session of 2013.

     No written comments on this measure were received by your Committee.

     Your Committee finds that mandatory health insurance coverage for hearing aids would substantially assist persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to function effectively in the community.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair