STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2453

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2259

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2259, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require each employer group health policy, contract, plan, or agreement and each individual and group hospital or medical service plan, policy, contract, or agreement issued or renewed by health insurers in the State after December 31, 2024, that provides coverage, to provide coverage for dental and vision preventative care, diagnosis, and treatment; and

(2) Require every insurer and mutual benefit society to provide written notice to policyholders and members no later than December 31, 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Indivisible Hawaii Healthcare Team and four individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Your Committee finds that dental and vision health is critical to the general health and well-being of the State's residents. Having access to adequate dental and vision health benefits enables people to see and eat better, work productively, go to school ready to focus on learning, and enjoy life.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony stating that the State's Medicaid program already provides coverage for vision and dental prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for all Medicaid beneficiaries. Your Committee also notes testimony pointing out that since the measure proposes to create a new proposed mandate of health coverage, the Auditor must be requested to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report that assesses both the social and financial effects of the proposed mandated coverage. Accordingly, amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the State's Medicaid program to provide coverage for dental and vision preventative care, diagnosis, and treatment;

(2) Inserting language requesting the Auditor to conduct a social and financial impact assessment report of the mandatory health insurance coverage under this measure; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2259, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2259, S.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair