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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2204 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to INSURANCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Repeal the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism; and
(2) Repeal the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.
SECTION 2. Section 431:10A-133, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§431:10A-133[]]
Autism benefits and coverage; notice; definitions. (a)
Each individual or group accident and health or sickness insurance
policy issued or renewed in this State after January 1, [2016,] 2027,
shall provide to the policyholder and individuals [under fourteen years of
age] covered under the policy coverage for the diagnosis of autism and
treatment [of] for autism.
(b) This section shall not apply to disability, accident‑only, medicare, medicare supplement, student accident and health or sickness insurance, dental-only, and vision-only policies or policies or renewals of six months or less.
(c) Every insurer shall provide written notice to its policyholders regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to policyholders and shall be transmitted to policyholders within calendar year 2016 when annual information is made available to policyholders or in any other mailing to policyholders, but in no case later than December 31, 2016.
[(d)
Coverage for applied behavioral analysis provided under this section
shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $25,000 per year for services for
children ages thirteen and under. This
section shall not be construed as limiting benefits that are otherwise
available to an individual under an accident and health or sickness insurance
policy. Payments made by an insurer on
behalf of a covered individual for any care, treatment, intervention, or
service other than applied behavioral analysis shall not be applied toward the
maximum benefit established under this subsection.]
[(e)] (d) Coverage under this section may be subject to
copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions of an accident and health or
sickness insurance policy that are no less favorable than the copayment,
deductible, and coinsurance provisions for substantially all medical services
covered by the policy.
[(f)] (e) Treatment for autism requests shall include a
treatment plan. Except for inpatient
services, if an individual is receiving treatment for autism, an insurer may
request a review of the treatment plan for continued authorization of coverage
for treatment for autism at the insurer's discretion.
[(g)] (f) The medical necessity of treatment covered by
this section shall be determined pursuant to the policy and shall be defined in
the policy in a manner that is consistent with other services covered under the
policy. Except for inpatient services,
if an individual is receiving treatment for autism, an insurer may request a
review of the medical necessity of that treatment at the insurer's discretion.
[(h)] (g) This section shall not be construed as
reducing any obligation to provide services to an individual under any publicly
funded program, an individualized family service plan, an individualized
education program, or an individualized service plan.
[(i)] (h) Coverage under this section shall exclude
coverage for:
(1) Care that is custodial in nature;
(2) Services and supplies that are not clinically appropriate;
(3) Services provided by family or household members;
(4) Treatments considered experimental; and
(5) Services provided outside of the State.
[(j)] (i) Insurers shall include in their network of
approved autism service providers only those providers who have cleared state
and federal criminal background checks as determined by the insurer.
[(k)] (j) If an individual has been diagnosed as having
autism meeting the diagnostic criteria described in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders available at the time of diagnosis, upon
publication of a more recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, that individual may be required to undergo repeat
evaluation to remain eligible for coverage under this section.
[(l)] (k) Treatment for autism shall not be covered
pursuant to this section unless provided by an autism service provider that is
licensed by a state licensure board. If
a state licensure board that licenses providers to provide autism services is
unavailable, the autism service provider shall:
(1) Be certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.; provided that certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc., shall be valid for purposes of this subsection for no more than one year; or
(2) Meet any existing credentialing requirements determined by the insurer.
[(m)] (l) As used in this section[, unless the
context clearly requires otherwise]:
"Applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior.
"Autism" means autism spectrum disorder as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
"Autism service provider" means
any person, entity, or group that provides treatment for autism and meets the
minimum requirements pursuant to subsection [(l).] (k).
"Behavioral health treatment" means evidence based counseling and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are:
(1) Necessary to develop, maintain, or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual; and
(2) Provided or supervised by an autism service provider.
"Diagnosis of autism" means medically necessary assessments, evaluations, or tests conducted to diagnose whether an individual has autism.
"Pharmacy care" means medications prescribed by a licensed physician or registered nurse practitioner and any health-related services that are deemed medically necessary to determine the need or effectiveness of the medications.
"Psychiatric care" means direct or consultative services provided by a licensed psychiatrist.
"Psychological care" means direct or consultative services provided by a licensed psychologist.
"Therapeutic care" means services provided by licensed speech pathologists, registered occupational therapists, licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed physical therapists.
"Treatment for autism" includes the following care prescribed or ordered for an individual diagnosed with autism by a licensed physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or registered nurse practitioner if the care is determined to be medically necessary:
(1) Behavioral health treatment;
(2) Pharmacy care;
(3) Psychiatric care;
(4) Psychological care; and
(5) Therapeutic care."
SECTION 3. Section 432:1-614, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§432:1-614[]] Autism
benefits and coverage; notice; definitions.
(a) Each hospital and medical
service plan contract issued or renewed in this State after January 1, [2016,] 2027, shall provide to the
member and individuals [under fourteen years of age] covered under the
plan contract coverage for the diagnosis of autism and treatment [of]
for autism.
(b) This section shall not apply to disability, accident‑only, medicare, medicare supplement, student accident and health or sickness insurance, dental-only, and vision-only policies or policies or renewals of six months or less.
(c)
Every mutual benefit society shall provide written notice to its members
regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and
prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to members and
shall be transmitted to members within calendar year [2016,] 2027,
when annual information is made available to members or in any other mailing to
members, but in no case later than December 31, [2016.] 2027.
[(d)
Coverage for applied behavioral analysis provided under this section
shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $25,000 per year for services for
children ages thirteen and under. This
section shall not be construed as limiting benefits that are otherwise
available to a member under a hospital and medical service plan contract. Payments made on behalf of a member for any
care, treatment, intervention, or service other than applied behavioral
analysis shall not be applied toward the maximum benefit established under this
subsection.]
[(e)] (d) Coverage under this section may be subject to
copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions of a policy that are no less
favorable than the copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions for
substantially all medical services covered by the plan contract.
[(f)] (e) Treatment for autism requests shall include a
treatment plan. Except for inpatient
services, if an individual is receiving treatment for autism, a mutual benefit
society may request a review of the treatment plan for continued authorization
of coverage for treatment for autism at the mutual benefit society's
discretion.
[(g)] (f) The medical necessity of treatment covered by
this section shall be determined pursuant to the plan contract and shall be
defined in the plan contract in a manner that is consistent with other services
covered under the plan contract. Except
for inpatient services, if an individual is receiving treatment for autism, a
mutual benefit society may request a review of the medical necessity of that
treatment at the society's discretion.
[(h)] (g) This section shall not be construed as
reducing any obligation to provide services to an individual under any publicly
funded program, an individualized family service plan, an individualized
education program, or an individualized service plan.
[(i)] (h) Coverage under this section shall exclude
coverage for:
(1) Care that is custodial in nature;
(2) Services and supplies that are not clinically appropriate;
(3) Services provided by family or household members;
(4) Treatments considered experimental; and
(5) Services provided outside of the State.
[(j)] (i) Mutual benefit societies shall include in
their network of approved autism service providers only those providers who
have cleared state and federal criminal background checks as determined by the
society.
[(k)] (j) If an individual has been diagnosed as having
autism meeting the diagnostic criteria described in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders available at the time of diagnosis, upon
publication of a more recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, that individual may be required to undergo repeat
evaluation to remain eligible for coverage under this section.
[(l)] (k) Treatment for autism shall not be covered
pursuant to this section unless provided by an autism service provider that is
licensed by a state licensure board. If
a state licensure board that licenses providers to provide autism services is
unavailable, the autism service provider shall:
(1) Be certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.; provided that certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc., shall be valid for purposes of this subsection for no more than one year; or
(2) Meet any existing credentialing requirements determined by the mutual benefit society.
[(m)] (l) As used in this section[, unless the
context clearly requires otherwise]:
"Applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior.
"Autism" means autism spectrum disorder as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
"Autism service provider" means
any person, entity, or group that provides treatment for autism and meets the
minimum requirements pursuant to subsection [(l).] (k).
"Behavioral health treatment" means evidence based counseling and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are:
(1) Necessary to develop, maintain, or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual; and
(2) Provided or supervised by an autism service provider.
"Diagnosis of autism" means medically necessary assessments, evaluations, or tests conducted to diagnose whether an individual has autism.
"Pharmacy care" means medications prescribed by a licensed physician or registered nurse practitioner and any health‑related services that are deemed medically necessary to determine the need or effectiveness of the medications.
"Psychiatric care" means direct or consultative services provided by a licensed psychiatrist.
"Psychological care" means direct or consultative services provided by a licensed psychologist.
"Therapeutic care" means services provided by licensed speech pathologists, registered occupational therapists, licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed physical therapists.
"Treatment for autism" includes the following care prescribed or ordered for an individual diagnosed with autism by a licensed physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or registered nurse practitioner if the care is determined to be medically necessary:
(1) Behavioral health treatment;
(2) Pharmacy care;
(3) Psychiatric care;
(4) Psychological care; and
(5) Therapeutic care."
SECTION 4. The benefit to be provided by health maintenance organizations corresponding to the benefit provided under section 431:10A-133, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, in section 2 of this Act, shall take effect for all policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after December 31, 2026.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Health Insurance; Autism; Benefits; Coverage; Age; Limit; Repeal
Description:
Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.