STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1142

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 502

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION INSURANCE COVERAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove discriminatory language governing requirements for insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology by requiring parity of coverage for in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples, male-female couples for whom male infertility is a factor, and women regardless of marital status.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Hawaii Women Lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Hawai‘i LGBT Legal Association, and several individuals.  Two individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawai‘i Association of Health Plans submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion.

     Your Committee notes that this measure does not, nor is it intended to, expand the State's in vitro fertilization insurance mandate to require coverage for additional procedures.  The mandate will continue to be limited to requiring coverage of in vitro fertilization procedures such as egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer.  This measure clarifies that, where in vitro fertilization procedures are performed on an oocyte donor or surrogate of the insured or of the insured's dependent spouse, the scope of coverage required for egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer will be determined as though these procedures were being performed on the insured or on the insured's dependent spouse.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair