STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1535-26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

 

RE:   S.B. No. 3133

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 3133, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MEDICINE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure continued access to preventive medicine for Hawaii residents by:

 

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii Preventive Services Advisory Committee to serve in an advisory capacity to the Department of Health on matters relating to clinical preventive services;

 

     (2)  Providing immunity for health care professionals who provide clinical preventive services based on recommendations of the Department of Health;

 

     (3)  Authorizing the Department of Health to issue clinical preventive service recommendations based on the recommendations of the advisory committee or pursuant to an inter-state alliance; and

 

     (4)  Requiring coverage of evidence-based clinical preventive services without cost-sharing.

 

     Your Committee 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; AlohaCare; and American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that access to evidencebased clinical preventive services is essential to protecting public health and reducing long-term health care costs for individuals and families in the State.  Your Committee further finds that uncertainty at the federal level regarding the continued recognition of preventive service recommendations creates a risk that consumers may lose no-cost access to essential preventive care, resulting in increased outofpocket expenses and delayed treatment.

 

     Your Committee additionally finds that ensuring continued coverage of recommended preventive services without costsharing promotes early detection, disease prevention, and improved health outcomes, while reducing avoidable health care expenditures.  Establishing a state-level framework to preserve access to preventive services will advance consumer protection and support the health and wellbeing of the people of the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the Hawaii Preventive Services Advisory Committee;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the mandated coverage requirements for clinical preventive services applies beginning January 1, 2027;

 

     (3)  Authorizing the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services based on certain recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force;

 

     (4)  Specifying that, for coverage of child health supervision services, the prevailing medical standards mean the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the recommendations of the Department of Health;

 

     (5)  Prohibiting denial of coverage and prior authorization for clinical preventive services based on medical necessity;

 

     (6)  Inserting a severability clause in the event a provision of this measure is determined to trigger a cost to the State under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3133, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3133, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair