STAND. COM. REP. NO. 859-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1980

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1980, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Permit, but not require, Medicaid, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover telephonic behavioral health services under certain circumstances; and

(2) Clarify that telephonic services do not constitute telehealth.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Medical Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, AARP Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, National Association of Social Workers-Hawai‘i, The Queen's Health Systems, The Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1980, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair