STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1898

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1898, H.D. 2, 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) Specify that no person is subject to liability for providing clinical preventive services in accordance with Department of Health recommendations;

(2) Require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and plans established by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust to provide coverage for clinical preventive services;

(3) Authorize the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services and issue standing orders for medications and immunizations;

(4) Clarify that, for coverage for child health supervision services, the prevailing medical standards include recommendations by the Department of Health;

(5) Specify that coverage for clinical preventive services shall not be denied on the basis of medical necessity or subject to prior authorization;

(6) Specify that a registered pharmacist may order a vaccine in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Health; and

(7) Exempt this measure from an Auditor impact assessment report.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Association; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaiʻi Chapter; and twenty-seven individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from eleven individuals.

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

Your Committees find that under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health plans are required to cover immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and other clinical preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force without patient cost-sharing. Your Committees further find that although the immunization and vaccination science has not changed, in the past year ACIP recommendations have, differing significantly from established medical standards and practice, such as the immunization recommendations provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This measure reduces confusion, reduces barriers, and ensures access to science-based clinical preventive services for those that choose to receive these services.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 30, 2050, 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 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. 1898, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1898, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and 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