STAND. COM. REP. NO. 27

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 484

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLINICAL VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require health insurance policies to cover clinical victim support services for victims of sexual violence and abuse.

The Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, AAUW Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Kapi‘olani Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Save Medicaid Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure. The Hawaii Medical Service Association testified in opposition of this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments.

Your Committee amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the State Auditor to perform an analysis to determine if the mandated benefits rise to the level of triggering the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's requirement to defray the cost of any new mandate in excess of the essential health benefits, and an impact assessment report if required under section 23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee also notes that in their opposition to this measure, the Hawaii Medical Service Association testified that the services mandated by this measure are already covered by their existing case management services. Your Committee would like to further note that in oral testimony, the Kapi‘olani Sex Abuse Treatment Center testified that the benefits mandated by this measure fill a gap that is currently unmet by existing services by providing, for example, for a victim's existing therapist to intercede on their behalf when the victim is receiving other case management services.

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 H.B. No. 484, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 484, 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,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair