STAND. COM. REP. NO. 154-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1980

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1980 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEPHONIC SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permit, but not require, Medicaid, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover telephonic behavioral health services under certain circumstances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Medical Services Association, The Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Association of Social Workers-Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, AARP Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanent Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Care Choices.

Your Committee finds that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a increase in the use of telehealth services, particularly for behavioral health services. Your Committee further finds that there is an additional need to remedy digital health disparities for individuals without access to the audio-visual technology needed for telehealth. This measure expands access to remote behavioral health care services by permitting, but not requiring, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover audio-only telephonic services under certain circumstances.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that telephonic behavioral health services may be covered if in-person behavioral health services have been provided to a patient within twelve, rather than six months prior to the telephonic service;

(2) Clarifying that coverage of telephonic services by an insurer, mutual benefit society, or health maintenance organization is neither required nor prohibited;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1980, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1980, 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, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair