STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1598-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 35

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 35 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BIOMARKER TESTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of mandatory health insurance coverage for biomarker testing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Alzheimer's Association Hawaii Chapter; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Oncology Nurse Society, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaiʻi Rheumatology Society; American Lung Association in Hawaii; ZERO Prostate Cancer; Global Colon Cancer Association; and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that biomarker testing is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, and ongoing monitoring of diseases or conditions. Your Committee further finds that although the Auditor previously assessed the social and financial effects of mandatory health insurance coverage for biomarker testing, as proposed by House Bill No. 2223, H.D. 1, Regular Session of 2024 (HB 2223), the proposed coverage was only for cases where biomarker testing was deemed medically necessary. Your Committee believes that, given the diverse and beneficial ways biomarker tests may be used in clinical practice, including disease screening tests and predictive tests, biomarker testing should not be limited solely to cases of medical necessity. This measure therefore requests the Auditor to conduct a statutorily required impact assessment report on the social and financial effects of the mandated health insurance coverage for biomarker testing as proposed by House Bill No. 1971, Regular Session of 2026.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 35 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair