STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2904

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 279

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 279 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require Medicaid and insurance coverage of ketamine therapy to treat depression; and

(2) Make an appropriation for costs resulting from Medicaid coverage of ketamine therapy.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Beyond Mental Health; Kahala Clinic for Children and Family; Marian L. Miller, PSY.D., Inc.; and six individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association.

Your Committees find that research has shown that, for some people, ketamine therapy may relieve depressive symptoms and restore quality of life when all other treatments have failed. Given its efficacy for people with suicidal ideation, it is plausible that ketamine may also be lifesaving. Your Committees find, however, that this life-saving agent is too cost-prohibitive. Your Committees find that making ketamine more easily accessible as an alternative therapy for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, who otherwise feel they have no hope, can protect and improve public health. Therefore, this measure requires much needed Medicare and insurance coverage for those Hawaii residents who suffer from major or severe depression.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2040, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 279, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 279, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair