Bill Text: HI HB421 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Motorized Wheelchairs

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB421 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB421-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  493

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 421

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 421 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to require health, disability, and other related insurers to provide coverage for servicing and repairing medically necessary and prescribed motorized wheelchairs and electronic convenience vehicles, including provision of loaners or rentals while repairs are being made.

 

     The Hawaii Disability Rights Center and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and a concerned individual provided comments.

 

     The federal Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March of 2010 and will probably have an effect on health coverage costs for the State.  In addition, your Committee feels strongly that the social and financial impacts of this measure should be thoroughly considered before passage.  While your Committee appreciates the testimony provided by so many individuals who rely on wheelchairs and similar devices, it would be wisest to fully consider the implications on all parties of such legislation before passing it but to make certain that this evaluation is done in a timely manner, allowing the Legislature to address this issue during the 2012 Regular Session.

 

     With all of these considerations in mind, your Committee has amended this bill by deleting its contents and inserting provisions that request the Auditor to:

 

     (1)  Conduct a study on the impact of access to motorized wheelchair service and repair, and loaners or rentals while repairs are being made;

 

     (2)  Explain the impact of mandated insurance coverage for motorized wheelchair service on Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies; and

 

     (3)  Provide recommendations regarding mandated insurance coverage 20 days prior to the 2012 Legislative Session.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 421, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 421, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

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

 

 

		____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair