STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3314

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1624

H.D. 1

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 Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1624, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility in policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after December 31, 2024.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.; Hawaii Society of Clinical Oncology; Association for Clinical Oncology; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Inc.; Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology of Hawaii, Inc. dba Fertility Institute of Hawaii; Alliance for Fertility Preservation; and four individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi.

Your Committees find that many medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can significantly damage reproductive tissues and affect fertility in both men and women. Your Committees further find that patients undergoing these treatments often face the heartbreaking reality that their cancer or other diagnosis treatment may cause them to become infertile, leading to significant long-term mental, emotional, and physical

impacts on the patients, their partners, and their families. This measure provides medical coverage for standard fertility preservation services, thereby offering a chance for cancer patients to maintain their fertility options so they can start a family after their cancer treatment.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to the definition of "standard fertility preservation services" to exclude:

(A) Third party assisted reproduction technology procedures, including donor egg or surrogates and gestational carriers; and

(B) Any services relating to cryopreservation storage; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1624, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1624, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair